Undergoing surgical treatment by a Los Angeles spine surgery expert is now much more simple and can be performed with little trauma to the patient thanks to minimally invasive surgery. An innovative alternative to open and often more extensive surgeries of the spine, minimally invasive surgery is used to alleviate pressure on the spinal nerves and to better stabilize the spine’s vertebrae and joints using advanced instrumentation. This allows the surgery to be completed using smaller incisions, which means reduced pain, scarring, and operative and recovery time.
With minimally invasive spinal surgery, advanced methods are used such as moving fiber optic camera tubes through a tiny incision and then using guided instruments to perform the repair. Because the incision used for minimally invasive surgery is so small, there is very little blood loss and subsequently a very slight scar after the area has healed. The chance of infection is also reduced, and pain is at a minimum because no muscle tissues are cut.
Post-operative pain and complications are also greatly minimized when minimally invasive surgery is used. As previously mentioned, it is unnecessary to cut muscle to reach the structures of the spine. Therefore, patients are generally able to return to work more quickly after the procedure because there is no muscle tissue to heal and pain is minimal compared to traditional spine surgery. If rehabilitation is needed, the course of treatment is usually much shorter.
Many conditions of the spine are good candidates for minimally invasive surgery which include, but are not limited to:
If you are considering surgery to help alleviate pain or numbness that has resulted from a back or neck condition, minimally invasive surgery may be the best option for you. Not only can the right procedure help relieve some level of pain and discomfort, many of today’s spinal procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, meaning there’s no need for an overnight hospital stay, and in many cases, the patient can be up and walking the same day of surgery.
For more information about minimally invasive surgery in the Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Greater Los Angeles area, click here or contact The Spine Institute Center for Spinal Restoration. We specialize in minimally invasive surgery and can help determine if this type of procedure and technique best meets your individual needs. Call (310) 929-7757 and speak with one of our spinal specialists today.