Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive back surgeries usually involve less pain and less need for pain medication than traditional, open back surgeries. Your doctor will discuss pain management with you prior to your operation, and answer questions about your situation.
The major advantages of minimally invasive spine surgery are well documented and include
• better outcomes
• faster recovery times
• lower risks of complication
• less blood loss
• more cost effective
As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks to minimally invasive spine surgery, but the benefits of pain relief and the opportunity for a major life improvement far outweigh the risks. Minimally invasive spine surgery is usually much safer than open back spine surgery as well, based on the advantages listed above. Although it may not be the best treatment option for every patient, it is certainly an excellent choice for those who need it.
Who May Seek Treatment
Eligible patients for minimally invasive spine surgery can be of any age, but they are generally healthy with a specific pathology causing symptoms that can be addressed by a minimally invasive option.
Generally, younger people tend to seek spine surgery as an option for severe congenital issues such as scoliosis requiring surgical intervention, or for acute injuries from a car accident or sports injury.
Older patients may have some disorders or degenerative issues that exclude them as a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery.
Risks from Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive spine surgery can produce a variety of risks, including
• Infection
• neurologic complications
• reinjury
• reproducing specific pain that was not there prior to surgery
Knowing the potential risks involved is important in any sort of surgical procedure. However, for most of these serious complications, there is a very low risk.
Likeliness of Complications
One of the most crucial criteria when it comes to determining the outcome of surgery is making sure the procedure is the right treatment for each specific patient. Knowing that the patient is an excellent candidate for spine surgery goes a long way in determining if there will be any risk, or if there will be a positive outcome.
However, just because there are risks associated with minimally invasive spine surgery (and all surgery), that does not mean that surgery is not a good option for you. Our physicians will make their best recommendations for your treatment and return to good health, but ultimately, it’s your choice to have the surgery.
Moving Forward with Surgery
It is commonly known that individuals who are in severe pain are willing to do whatever it takes to relieve themselves of that pain. Although there are a handful of risks associated with minimally invasive spine surgery, it is important that an individual do what is right for their body and listen to their doctor’s recommendations before moving forward with such a procedure.