The Spine Center of Park Ridge, Illinois, is a Chicago area leader in minimally invasive spinal treatments. Although spinal problems often require surgery, today’s advanced techniques can make the procedure much less invasive and more precise, with reduced healing times. Our office is equipped with the latest technology, and our surgeons are trained and experienced in minimally invasive procedures. Request an appointment for consultation and more information on how we can help you.
Open Vs. Minimally Invasive Surgery
Minimally invasive is more than a catchphrase. It describes an entirely different approach to surgery. The traditional method, which is still practiced in a large percentage of medical offices, is open surgery. It involves a large incision and moving tissues to give the surgeon a full view of the treatment area. Naturally, the healing period after such a procedure can be extensive.
When minimally invasive techniques are employed, the incision or incisions are very small. Tiny instruments, designed with some of today’s most sophisticated technology, are used to view and manipulate tissue in the treatment area. Due to the exacting precision of digital technology, this method often improves accuracy while decreasing tissue trauma.
The benefits of minimally invasive techniques include:
- Smaller incision
- Faster, more comfortable healing
- Decreased length of hospitalization
- Minimal trauma to tissue around the treatment site
- Exacting precision for optimal treatment outcomes
Common Procedures
The idea of having spinal surgery once struck fear into the hearts of patients. Fortunately, individuals with spinal issues no longer need to worry. Surgeons can perform minimally invasive variants on many common procedures. These include:
- Discectomies
- Corpectomies
- Spinal Fusions
- Foraminotomies
- Kyphoplasties
Like many surgeries, exact procedures depend on a patient’s particular case and personal health history.
What Conditions Are Treated and Is MIS Right for You?
The above minimally invasive procedures can treat a wide range of conditions. For instance, patients suffering from spine-related pain or limb weakness, which are some of the most common complaints, can benefit from minimally invasive surgeries. So do those dealing with more severe forms of scoliosis, spinal arthritis, sciatica, or herniated discs. Such advanced procedures can also help in treating various kinds of spinal cancer.
However, in some specific cases, your surgeon may choose to perform a more traditional surgery rather than use minimally invasive techniques. Why? The exact nature of your issue may require your doctor to access more area than that allowed by a minimally invasive procedure. While traditional procedures often result in more discomfort and longer recovery periods, no study show that these kinds of surgeries result in worse long-term outcomes. Know that your surgeon will always prioritize your long-term health first and foremost.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Risks, Recovery Time, and Success Rate
There are certain common risks to any spinal surgery. Patients sometimes experience the following:
- Significant Blood Loss
- Infection
- Pneumonia
- Deep-Vein Thrombosis
- Persistent Discomfort
By utilizing minimally invasive techniques, these risks are reduced when compared to the traditional open techniques. More serious risks include suffering damage to the nerve sac, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, spinal instability, and future disc herniation. While none of these are pleasant to consider, they happen extremely rarely. For instance, nerve damage, the most serious risk, occurs in less than one out of every 10,000 cases. If you experience a more common complication, your surgeon can often compensate for it during the procedure. And should more significant difficulties arise, they may be addressed with further minimally invasive procedures.
Preparing for a MIS Procedure
In order to prepare for your minimally invasive procedure, you should make sure to complete all of the diagnostic tests requested by your doctor. This will give your surgeon the most thorough picture possible about your health situation. Additionally, you should consider trying to lose weight if your physician suggests that you do so.
Immediately prior to your surgery, you should abstain from food and drink. Also, make sure to have a friend or family member available to help you with basic self-care and household tasks. And make sure to prepare yourself to move. Although it may seem counterintuitive, regular movement after surgery helps your spine heal.
Choosing the Right Surgeon
The best technology is only as good as the skills of the person using it. Minimally invasive surgery is quite complex, requiring extensive training, experience, and advanced surgical skills. Our team of fellowship trained, board certified orthopedic surgeons have several decades of cumulative experience, and a reputation for excellence.
We take pride in providing quality medical solutions for a wide range of spinal diseases and injuries. Before recommending any treatment, we begin with comprehensive diagnosis to determine the exact cause of your symptoms, and the severity of the problem.
Schedule an appointment or call us at [847] 698-9330 for an appointment.