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Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Safe?

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If you're dealing with constant back or neck pain that won't go away no matter what treatments you try, you might be wondering if minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is your next step. But like many patients, you may also ask, “Is it safe?”

At Advanced Neurosurgery, board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Song and our highly trained team are here to reassure you. 

We’re known for our dedication to patient safety and innovation, offering clinically proven leading-edge treatments like regenerative medicine and MISS. 

In our August blog, we take a closer look at how MISS works and why it’s so safe and effective.

What does minimally invasive really mean?

MISS is a collection of surgical techniques with smaller incisions, specialized tools, and advanced imaging technology to treat spinal issues with minimal damage to nearby tissues.

Reasons why minimally invasive spine surgery is safe

Overall, MISS delivers a high level of safety and precision, especially when compared to traditional open surgical techniques.

It all starts with incision size. Typical incisions for open spine surgery, the traditional approach, are about six inches long. With MISS, incisions are only an inch or two long.

Rather than cutting through muscle and soft tissues around the spine, our surgeons use tubular retractors to gently move them aside. This approach minimizes damage and helps preserve the spine’s natural support system.

While traditional open spine surgery relies on direct visualization, minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) utilizes advanced imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy or a small endoscopic camera to access and view the surgical area with enhanced precision.

These methods improve safety by leading to:

  • Less bleeding
  • Reduced risk of infection
  • Decreased nerve injury risk
  • Shorter hospital stays (often outpatient surgery)
  • Faster recovery times
  • Less pain after surgery

Overall, MISS is widely considered the most advanced and safest method for treating many spine conditions related to injury or chronic degeneration.

Conditions MISS can treat

Minimally invasive spine surgery can treat:

  • Spinal stenosis: narrowing of the spine
  • Herniated discs: bulging or broken spinal discs
  • Degenerative disc disease: worn-out or damaged spinal discs
  • Spinal instability: unsteady or weak spine
  • Spondylolisthesis: slipped or out-of-place vertebra
  • Spinal infections: infections in the vertebrae or discs
  • Spinal tumors: growths or masses in the spine
  • Radiculopathy: pinched or irritated nerves in the spine
  • Spinal trauma: injuries to the spine
  • Sciatica: pain from pressure on the sciatic nerve

If your surgeon recommends a procedure such as discectomy, artificial disc replacement, spinal decompression, or a spine tumor resection, MISS may be right for you.

At Advanced Neurosurgery, we utilize the latest technologies and surgical techniques to provide our patients with care that prioritizes both safety and effectiveness.

Not everyone is a candidate for MISS, but many patients are surprised to find out they are.

If you’ve been living with pain that limits your movement or affects your quality of life, don’t wait to find out about your options.

Call Advanced Neurosurgery today or book your consultation online. Relief could be closer than you think.