What is minimally invasive spine surgery?

The goal of all spinal surgeries is to reduce or eliminate pain, increase mobility, and allow a patient to return to the activities of daily life. Traditional spine surgery, while often effective in achieving these goals, also involved a relatively lengthy hospital stay and a long recovery (sometimes up to a year). Newer, minimally invasive surgical techniques, however, generally require smaller incisions, use highly advanced instruments and technologies that minimize the effects on surrounding areas of the body, and enable the patient to recover more quickly—often in just a few months or less. Pain following surgery and during rehabilitation and recovery is also generally less of an issue for patients.

When is minimally invasive surgery performed?

The minimally invasive surgical procedures are most commonly used to treat scoliosis, to fuse the spine and to treat herniated discs. Other conditions may also be treated with these new techniques.

Minimally invasive surgery is not appropriate for all patients or conditions. In some cases, your surgeon may recommend traditional surgery, particularly for conditions that make the use of these newer approaches difficult or impossible. Your Hurley orthopedic surgeon will consult with you to determine the appropriate surgical option.