Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgeries

Spine surgery is rarely an initial treatment for back pain, however, there are a few circumstances that may require surgical treatment.  Minimally invasive surgery, also known as “keyhole” surgery, uses a thin, telescope-like instrument known as an endoscope, which is inserted through small incisions. The endoscope is connected to a tiny video camera – smaller than a dime – which projects an “inside” view of the patient’s body onto television screens in the operating room. This minimally invasive spine surgery is commonly referred to as Endoscopic Spine Surgery.

Most commonly, doctors will advise at least 3 to 6 months of conservative treatment before considering spine surgery. Examples of complex spine surgeries that have benefited from less invasive techniques include discectomy, spinal fusion, and spinal disc replacement. Our neck and back pain specialists can help you navigate the choices and find the best spine treatment for you.

What Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

Minimally invasive spinal surgery is a collection of surgical techniques that allow the spinal problem to be corrected using small surgical incisions. Compared to traditional spine surgery where a long incision is made to retract the muscles and tissues to view the site, minimally invasive spinal procedures create a smaller opening and are less damaging to the muscles and other soft tissues around the spine.

 
Small surgical instruments may then be passed through one or more additional half-inch incisions. Following the procedure, the small incisions are closed with sutures and covered with surgical tape. After a few months, they are barely visible.
 
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is used in many different situations, including spinal fusion, herniated discs and treating scoliosis.

Also, a quicker recovery from surgery is anticipated with minimally invasive surgery. Other advantages of minimally invasive spinal surgery include:

  • less bleeding,
  • shorter hospital stays, and
  • a lower rate of postoperative infections

compared to open spine surgery.

What Conditions Does Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Treat?

The spine specialists at NSPC (NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery (NSPC)) employ minimally invasive spinal techniques, including stereotactic radiosurgery, for a number of conditions:

  • Compressed nerves
  • Tumors on the spine
  • Spinal cord compression from conditions such as degenerative scoliosis with lumbar spinal stenosis or herniated discs
  • Spine fractures including those from spinal cord injuries

Competent minimally invasive back and neck surgery demands skilled use of specialized surgical equipment; thus NSPC’s minimally invasive spine surgeons have extensive education to become adept in these minimally invasive techniques.

Often minimally invasive spinal procedures can be carried out in an afternoon and are considered outpatient. More complex minimally invasive procedures may demand more careful monitoring, require a longer recovery time, and are completed in a hospital setting.

What is Endoscopic Spine Surgery?

Endoscopic spine surgery is a modern way of treating spine problems with more minor cuts and faster recovery. It’s like using special tools and a tiny camera to fix issues in your spine without big surgeries. In regular spine surgeries, doctors make big cuts and move muscles around, which can hurt a lot and take a long time to heal. But in endoscopic surgery, we use a small camera and tools to fix spinal issues through tiny cuts. This makes you hurt less afterward and get back to normal activities quicker.

Endoscopic spine surgery can help with slipped discs, narrow spinal canals, and bone growths that cause trouble. It’s not right for every back problem, but when it works, it can mean less pain, shorter hospital stays, and less risk of problems like infections. Not everyone can have this kind of surgery, and our spine surgeons will decide what’s best based on the problem and your health history.

Minimally Invasive Techniques at NSPC in Long Island and the New York area

The first-rate surgeons at NSPC are skilled in a wide range of minimally invasive surgical techniques:

  • Endoscopic neurosurgery
  • Stereotactic radiosurgery
  • Minimal access spinal surgery
  • Stereotactic neurosurgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques have been used as part of a number of common back surgery procedures:

  • Discectomy
  • Laminectomy
  • Spinal decompressions
  • Spine fusions

NSPC, a private practice of leading neurosurgeons, offers state-of-the-art spine surgery. NSPC has medical centers in Long Island and the New York region. Contact us to talk with a spine specialist, and discover how minimally invasive spine surgery can help you.

Physicians

Ramin Rak

M.D., F.A.A.N.S.

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Artem Vaynman

M.D., F.A.A.N.S. F.A.C.S.

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William Sonstein

M.D., F.A.C.S.

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Daniel Birk

M.D.

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Xavier P. J. Gaudin

D.O.

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Zachariah George

M.D.

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Sachin Shah

M.D.

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Stephen Onesti

M.D., F.A.C.S.

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