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Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)
What is minimally invasive spinal surgery? Conventional spine surgery typically requires a longer incision and detachment of the spinal muscles to gain access to the spine.
Minimally invasive spine (MIS) surgery refers to a growing number of surgical procedures with much smaller incisions and little or no cutting of the muscle.
MIS surgery typically uses a thin, telescope-like instrument known as an endoscope, which is inserted through small incisions to the problem area(s). Muscles are then dilated apart, rather than cut, and the operation is performed with minimal injury to any surrounding tissues.
This is performed by highly specialized spine surgeons utilizing specially designed instruments and operative equipment.
How can surgeons see well through the tiny incisions? A variety of state-of-the art technologies including specialized fiber optic illumination, operating microscopes as well as computer-assisted image guidance systems make it possible.
In some cases, detailed 3-D computer models of a patient's spine are created from CT or MRI data. These sophisticated stereotactic techniques allow our surgeons to "see" the spine through a patient's skin without making a large incision.
Each of these techniques provides for safer, more accurate surgical procedure with much less pain.
What are the benefits of MIS surgery? Minimally invasive spine surgery offers the same post-surgical benefits as traditional spine surgery -- but with much less trauma.
A smaller incision is not the only advantage. Using an endoscope, the surgeon does not need to move, or "retract," the major muscles on the back, which is necessary during open spine surgery. So, patients are spared the pain and scarring that can develop after muscle retraction.
Benefits:
- Smaller Incision
- Reduced Blood Loss
- Less Pain after Surgery
- Less Soft Tissue Damage
- Less Scarring
Are you a candidate for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery? Utilizing MIS surgical techniques, our surgeons perform a variety spinal surgeries ranging from simple nerve decompression and micro-discectomy to complex procedures such as treatment of spinal tumors and spinal instrumentation.
You should be evaluated by a Fellowship-Trained Spine Surgeon if you have:
- Neck, Shoulder and Arm Pain, Numbness or Weakness
- Back, Buttock, and Leg Pain, Numbness or Weakness
Call 443-444-4730 for an appointment to see if you may benefit from minimally invasive spine surgery.
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