Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery in Plano TX – What Is It Like?
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Minimally invasive spine surgery in Plano, TX, is a pediatric development in orthopedics. The procedure is currently being applied in adults in the treatment of spinal complications. It’s the recent evolution in spinal surgery. The surgery is performed through small incisions similar to laparoscopic gallbladder removal and other abdominal procedures.
Notably, minimally invasive spine surgery has been used successfully over the past 20 years to treat patients with lumbar disc herniations/protrusions or stenosis in cases where conservative methods have failed.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Procedure
Minimally invasive spine surgery involves the use of small incisions performed either as microdiscectomy or spinal fusion.
In microdiscectomy, the surgeon creates only a single small cut, or micro-incision, to reach the precise target near the back. This procedure is simple to perform, and it can be done while the patient is standing up.
Spinal fusion is a minimally invasive surgery where the spine surgeon uses an artificial disc replacement instead of removing part or all affected vertebrae.
How to Determine the Patient’s Need for a Minimally Invasive Surgery Procedure?
Do you think you need minimally invasive surgery? How do doctors know if this procedure is necessary? Plano spine surgeon Plano TX back pain doctors ask questions and perform physical exams to determine whether or not their patients are good candidates for minimally invasive spine surgery.
The doctors are always concerned about your overall health, so that they will consider factors such as your age and medical history. The information will help them determine if you’re an appropriate candidate for minimally invasive spinal surgery.
How do you know you need a spinal surgery intervention? Some common symptoms that may indicate spine problems such as sciatica (pain in the back and legs), degenerative conditions, stenosis (narrowing), or spondylolisthesis (spine displacement), include:
- Extreme pain when sitting due to stenosis
- Sharp pains shooting from your neck down into your arms or legs
- Back or neck pain that has not responded to nonsurgical treatments
Once the doctors decide that minimally invasive spine surgery is right for you, a team of specialists will explain to you what the surgical approach entails. They will explain the specific tools they plan to use during the procedure.
Importantly, the Spinal surgeons monitor the whole process and adjust the techniques based on their findings throughout the surgery.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Spinal surgeons use minimally invasive spine surgery to help patients experience less pain and recover faster from the same treatments they once received during open-surgery procedures.
In contrast, those who undergo traditional surgical procedures often spend around six weeks in a rehab facility simply recovering from having had an incision made to relieve the pain caused by damaged tissue or vertebrae. The prolonged healing time translated into lost work productivity for patients and missed class time at school for higher education students.
The following are notable benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery;
Convenient. Minimally invasive spine surgery eliminates unnecessary delays since it is performed on an outpatient basis. After the procedure, the patients are not required to stay in the hospital for long or enroll in rehabilitation.
Shortened recovery time. Minimally invasive spine surgery helps in shortening the recovery time. It’s a proven fact that minimally invasive spine surgery has less postoperative pain and quicker recovery times than traditional spinal fusion procedures.
Less painful. Patients that undergo minimally invasive spinal fusion (MISF) typically experience less pain.
Fewer risks. Patients who undergo minimally invasive spinal fusion experience decreased risk of infection, complication, and blood loss.
Effective. Spine surgeons have reported success rates between 85% and 93% for patients who choose this method over open discectomy.
Good experience. The patients get an overall more positive experience. The patients see immediate improvement following their procedure.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Regulations
Authorities in states where minimally invasive surgery for the back has become commonplace have established guidelines. In the guidelines, only doctors with specific minimum training levels are allowed to perform the procedure for the best possible results.
At Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas, we meet all the regulatory requirements; hence you are guaranteed to get quality services.
Final Word
Patients have reported decreased pain levels, faster healing times, and improved mobility after undergoing a minimally invasive spine surgery procedure.
At Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery of Texas, we are committed to helping you regain your ability to move and enjoy everyday life without excessive recovery time or pain. To learn more about minimally invasive spine surgery in Plano, TX, services, contact us today.
