What are the advantages of minimally invasive back surgery, and how does it differ from traditional open surgery? If you need surgery on your spine, you may be facing this complex healthcare decision and have many questions.
Here is everything you need to know about minimally invasive back surgery and how it compares to open surgery.
Open vs. Minimally Invasive Back Surgery
Most the time, doctors perform any kind of back surgery because they need to decompress the nerves and stabilize the spine. Both types of surgery can accomplish this goal, but the methods they use are different.
During open back surgery, surgeons cut tissues to expose the spine so they can perform the work that needs to be done. During minimally invasive back surgery, surgeons use technology to work around the muscles, ligaments and other structures covering the spine. While some cutting will still need to occur, it typically requires much less disruption to accomplish the same results.
Many different types of back conditions can be treated with minimally invasive surgery, ranging from cervical to thoracic to lumbar conditions.
The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Back Surgery
One of the primary benefits of minimally invasive back surgery is faster recovery times. Because of this, the overall cost to the patient is also much less than open surgery due to quick discharge from the hospital.
While there are many benefits to minimally invasive surgery, there are times when open surgery may be the best option. Your spine surgeon will closely review your imaging and your symptoms to determine if you are a candidate for minimally invasive techniques.
Potential Risks and Side Effects
There are certain technical risks associated with minimally invasive spinal surgery. There are many important nerves, muscles and other structures near the spine that can be damaged during surgery if it isn’t performed properly. However, this is a risk associated with open surgery as well.
In fact, the standard risks of surgery — such as infection, bleeding, and fluid leakage — are actually reduced in minimally invasive back surgery.
While minimally invasive surgery is more difficult for the surgeon from a technical perspective, some spine surgeons specialize in this approach. This makes selecting the right spine surgeon incredibly important, especially if you may be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery.
Selecting the Right Spine Surgeon for You
Understanding your spine surgeon’s experience and background should be key in evaluating and selecting a minimally invasive spine program for treatment. The more experienced the surgeon is, the more conditions they can treat. You can start the conversation by asking about the number of minimally invasive back surgeries that a surgeon does in their practice.
The University of Maryland Spine Network offers advanced spine care at their practices across the state. Home to the region’s leading spine surgeons, many of our board-certified experts can provide recommendations on what kind of back surgery is right for you.
Hear From Our Experts
Listen to Dr. Daniel Cavanaugh, spine surgeon with UM Upper Chesapeake Health, and Dr. Khalid Kurtom, neurosurgeon with UM Shore Regional Health and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, discuss the benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery on the Live Greater Podcast.
