Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, also known as MISS, implies a minimal surgical invasion.
MISS techniques target surgery and utilize more modern technology, advanced imaging techniques, and special medical equipment to reduce tissue trauma, bleeding, radiation exposure, infection risk, and decreased hospital stays by minimizing the size of the incision and early rehabilitation.
It also makes possible surgery previously considered too high risk for traditional surgery due to medical history or complexity of the condition.
Procedures done with a microscope require skin openings of approximately one inch or more:
Exclusion – high grade deformity and complex tumor.
FAQ about Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)
Q. Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Safe?
Ans: In the era of modern spinal surgery where technique and technology have advanced to the accuracy of < 1 mm precision, spine surgery has become very safe. Neuromicroscopes, Multimodal neuromonitoring, navigation, ultrasonic bone cutter, special drill burr, and robotics make it safe.
Q. How long will I be in the hospital?
Ans: It depends on the surgery. After discectomy/decompression, the patient can go home the same day. For various stabilization and fusion surgeries, the hospital stay will be 2-3 days compared to 5-6 days after traditional open surgery.
Q. What is the recovery time, and when can I return to work?
Ans: This is individualized to the specific needs of the patient, type of surgery, patient occupation, and need for work.
Q. Does Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery need physical therapy?
Ans: Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery will need physical therapy, but rehabilitation will be early, so recovery time will be reduced and one can resume work earlier.
History: 42-year-old lady presented with low back pain with radicular pain in both lower limbs, which used to increase after standing and walking.
Investigations: MRI L.S. spine and dynamic x-rays L.S. spine were done - Anterolisthesis L4-5 grade II Lytic type.
Procedure Done: MIS TLIF (Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) was done.
