Minimally Invasive Laser Compared to Open Surgery

Advancements in all areas of spine surgery and the resulting benefits to patients have been dramatic in the last 10 years. This is particularly true of minimally invasive spine surgery with its state-of-the-art instrumentation.  If you do not know about the various differences between minimally invasive spine surgery, also referred to as laser, micro, arthroscopic, or endoscopic, which involves an incision of less than one inch compared to open surgery, also referred to as conventional or traditional, which is performed with an incision greater than 1 inch,  then keep on reading this article because it discusses the various differences in detail.

In traditional open back surgery, a five- to six-inch incision may be needed in order to see the affected nerve root. In creating such a sizeable incision, longer recovery times are needed, including the length of the stay in the hospital, the painful weeks/months of recuperation time, the use of pain medications necessary afterwards, and the time you will have to spend away from your work environment.  Conventional back surgery also includes the use of general anesthesia, which depending on your age and overall health, there could be a greater risk of complications.  Another important complication after conventional back surgery to consider is the likelihood of scar tissue formation. In some cases, the amount of back surgery scar tissue formation leads to additional spine conditions, which could eventually lead the patient to need another surgical procedure.

Modern minimally invasive back surgery has been replacing many traditional open back surgeries due to the extremely shorter recovery times.  If the same procedure can be done with less damage to healthy tissue, then the pain will be lessened and the recovery time decreased. The advantage of this treatment is that a small incision is made in which an arthroscope is inserted which allows the surgeon to use cameras to operate effectively with minimal damage to healthy tissue.  Minimally invasive spine surgery complications are lower compared to traditional open back surgery, since there is no general anesthesia used which can be high risk in some patients and post operative infection at the incision site rarely occurs.  Another advantage of this surgical treatment is that it is a very short-duration of treatment and you are also awake during the surgery.  The patient is normally seen on an outpatient basis and discharged after being monitored for one to two hours.  Minimally invasive spine surgery, done through an incision that measures no larger than the diameter of a penny, can achieve better results without the complications that occur in open back surgery.

Keep in mind that the minimally invasive surgical methods require the special expertise of a surgeon, so you will need to inquire whether you are a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery with a qualified surgeon. 

Furthermore, certain minimally invasive techniques are highly technical and require significant training, and in cases where there is a lack of training, complications may occur.  Using a sub-par surgeon can lead to complications such as inadequate decompression, nerve injury, or infection.  Make sure you are comfortable with the qualifications, track record, and experience of your surgeon.   

Minimally Invasive Laser Procedure Studies