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What Makes Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Different: Recovery & Results
Spine surgery can seem daunting, even when the procedure is your best route to reduced pain and mobility challenges. If the notion of “going under the knife” brings you anxiety, you may want to consider a minimally invasive alternative. In fact, depending on your condition and overall health, we may recommend such a procedure regardless.
Dr. Nicholas Perenich and his team at Spine Institute of Florida in Dade City and Spring Hill, Florida, offer minimally invasive spine surgeries (MISSs), such as foraminotomy, laminectomy, and microdiscectomy, for good candidates.
Minimally invasive vs. “regular” spine surgery
Minimally invasive spine surgery uses special tools and techniques to access your spine with less disruption to nearby tissues than traditional surgery.
Conventional, open spine surgery typically involves a long incision. While the large opening allows your surgeon a broad view of the treatment area, it can also open you up to having to take months off from work and leisure-time activities.
During minimally invasive spine surgery, your provider typically makes one or two small incisions. They then insert small tools, such as an endoscope, guiding with X-ray imagery, to alter or remove problematic tissue.
Minimally invasive surgery recovery
Because minimally invasive spine surgeries use smaller tools and incisions and take less time, you should have less pain, fewer risks of complications, and a shorter and easier recovery — largely because you’ll experience less damage to your muscles, ligaments, and skin.
A data analysis study showed that MISS is linked with less blood loss, shorter hospital time, and a reduced infection rate compared to open surgery. That means less time off from work and your favorite activities, and often less of a hit to your budget.
MISS recovery time
Most people return within 1-3 days from minimally invasive spine surgery. You may endure some fatigue, soreness, and stiffness near the surgical site for a few weeks, but many patients notice immediate improvements in symptoms like condition-related back pain.
While traditional spine surgery recovery often takes at least 3-6 months, many people return to light activity within 4-6 weeks of MISS.
Minimally invasive spine surgery results
Minimally invasive spine surgeries have very comparable results to traditional surgeries. As long as you’re a good candidate, work with qualified professionals, and have realistic expectations, you’ll likely have satisfactory results.
Lumbar microdiscectomies, for example, have an 80-90% success rate for alleviating back pain. Laminectomies and foraminotomies significantly reduce pain 75-90% of the time.
With all of our procedures, we aim to reduce your symptoms, restore your mobility, and improve your quality of life.
To learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery recovery and results or get started with personalized care, call Spine Institute of Florida or schedule an appointment through our website today.