Undergoing spine surgery may seem like a scary idea, but our surgeons at the Spine Institute at Baldwin Bone and Joint want you to know that new and innovative techniques in spine surgery may be effective for you.
What is minimally invasive spine surgery vs. traditional spine surgery?
Traditional spine surgery is an “open surgery” that requires the surgeon to make a 5” to 6” incision in your back to view and access the anatomy. Spinal procedures may include laminectomy, microdiscectomy, and traditional lumbar fusion. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
In open surgery, the pulling of muscles around the area where the incision was made may cause damage to the muscles and soft tissues surrounding it. You may experience pain that’s different from the back pain you experienced before the surgery—and you may face a lengthy recovery time.
With minimally invasive spine surgery, the surgeon will use advanced technologies to make smaller incisions that cause less injury to the muscles. Because there’s less trauma to the muscles and soft tissues, it’s a technique that’s proven to be effective but also has several advantages over traditional spine surgery.
The potential benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery
- Less pain
- Less blood loss
- Less risk of infection
- Less reliance on pain medications during recovery
- Shorter recovery time
Visit The Spine Institute at Baldwin Bone and Joint to learn more about our fellowship-trained surgeons and specialized spine care team. Find out if minimally invasive spine surgery is right for you by setting up a consultation today.
The best part? You may need to have surgery, but you can get back to your awesome, active life faster than ever before.
