Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) is among the most significant advancements in the treatment of spinal disorders. This latest technique enables surgeons to treat spine complications using minimal incisions, thus making the recovery period shorter and various complications reduced. However, there are several myths associated with this least invasive form of spine surgery. Here, we provide a reality check on five of the key myths surrounding minimally invasive spine surgery.

An Overview of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

MISS stands for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and is a relatively new procedure that aims to address the common issues that affect the spine while causing as little damage to the tissue as possible. Traditional open spine surgery entails making big incisions on the spine and cutting through many muscle fibers to have clear and direct access to the spine, while MISS only requires small incisions and fine surgical instruments to cause the least interferences with the skeletal muscles. This results in several advantages, including minimal post-surgery pains, early ability to recover, and also spending less time in the hospital.

How Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Works

MISS employs accessories such as endoscopes, microscopes, and fluoroscopy, which is a real-time X-ray that enables the surgeon to navigate the spine with a lot of precision. These instruments enable surgeons to operate on patients through tiny ports, which are usually about 0.5 inches in size, to allow the performance of complicated surgeries. Consequently, the amount of damage to the tissue is minimized, and the healing process is accelerated.

Advantages of Microsurgery of the Spine

• Reduced scarring of tissue and minimized the possibility of developing infection.
• Since the muscles are not cut, patients experience less pain after the surgery.
• Most of these patients are discharged soon after the stitches are removed or after spending a few days in the hospital.
• Compared to traditional surgery, most patients are able to get back to their day-to-day activities much faster.
• Less blood loss, reduced postoperative infection, and all causalities, hence giving better results.

Exploring the Common Myths About Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Myth 1: Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is not as Effective as Traditional Surgery

Some people argue that if the incisions are smaller, the surgery cannot be as effective as the traditional ‘open spine’ surgery. The effectiveness of minimally invasive spine surgery can be the same for all kinds of spinal disorders. Indeed, various works have defined the effectiveness as similar, or even higher, as compared to conventional procedures of spine surgery, considering the results of MISS. Injuries such as herniated discs and spinal stenosis and diseases such as degenerative disc diseases can all be treated using this method, and patients derive lasting benefits from the treatment.

Myth 2: It is Only Suitable for Minor Spine Problems

One more misunderstanding is that minimally invasive spine surgery can be performed only in cases of minor or uncomplicated spine disorders. It is essential to understand that when the minimally invasive technique was pioneered, it simply applied to cases where traditional open surgeries were simply not viable due to the risk involved. However, with current sophistication in technology and surgical skills, it is possible to correct a variety of pathologies via minimally invasive methods. Due to such capabilities, MISS has become useful for many different patients suffering from various spinal diseases, including scoliosis, spinal tumors, and patients who require multiple-level spinal fusions.

Myth 3: Recovery is Not Substantially Faster

One of the key benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery is that the rehabilitation period is significantly shorter; however, some of the patients expect that they will be hardly mobile for weeks or even months, as it is with traditional surgery. As MISS makes smaller incisions, there is less harm to muscles and tissues surrounding the spine, which leads to less pain and a shortened recovery period. In most instances, the patients are able to get back to their normal routines within weeks rather than months. Most of them can even walk on the same day of the operation and feel less need for follow-up exercises to enhance the healing process, hence a shorter recovery time.

Myth 4: Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is Riskier than Open Spine Surgery

This is a false belief that some people hold in their minds; they tend to believe that since technology is applied in the performance of minimally invasive techniques, the whole process is more dangerous compared to traditional surgery. But if this is what you thought, then you are wrong. In fact, MISS minimizes most of the dangers that are connected with normal spine surgery, for instance, less probability of acquiring an infection, less bleeding, and minimal scarring. Also, through the aid of fluoroscopy and endoscopic cameras, surgeons are able to pinpoint problematic areas in the spine, reducing complications.

Myth 5: It’s a New, Unproven Technique

Minimally invasive spine surgery may be seen as a form of new and innovative procedure for a number of patients, but it must be noted that the procedure has actually been in practice for decades now. Minimally invasive surgeries in the treatment of spinal disorders have been developed and applied by surgeons since the 1990s. It is the same where this type of surgery has been performed on so many patients and has benefited from technological advancement for years. In the recent past, several years of positive outcomes have been coupled with improvements in the tools and techniques used in reliable treatment procedures for spinal problems.

The Bottom Line

Minimally invasive spine surgery has been established most efficiently as an ideal line of treatment for a number of spinal disorders. They are less painful, have fewer side effects, and offer similar efficacy to conventional spine surgery, besides resulting in a faster recovery. In so doing, the various myths are demystified to help patients make a better-informed choice of their treatment deservedly. If you have a spine ailment, then you can contact our spinal surgeon at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute to find out whether you are fit for MISS treatment.