Ask the Doctor
Q: What is minimally invasive spine surgery?
A: A new concept has evolved through the years called minimally invasive surgery. The idea is to accomplish the same treatment goal as with traditional surgery, but to do so with much less trauma to muscle and other tissues. Reducing such trauma generally leads to a shorter time to return to activities. Minimally invasive spine surgery is performed through small incisions and frequently uses specialized x-ray techniques in surgery to localize the areas to be worked on instead of opening the area for direct inspection. Often, tubes are put through the small incisions to reach the spine. Some of the types of surgery that can be done using minimally invasive techniques are discectomy, fusion and the placement of screws and rods in the spine. Many of the surgeons at Texas Back Institute have been pioneers in this field and have directly contributed to the development of the techniques and instruments used.