Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Patients who suffer from chronic back or neck pain often struggle just to get through the day. When non-surgical options fail, many patients aren’t sure where to turn. Thankfully, advancements in minimally invasive techniques have made spine surgery a safe, effective option for more people than ever.

First performed in the 1980s, minimally invasive spinal surgery was introduced to offer patients less disruptive and less painful surgical solutions for many spinal disorders. Traditional open-back (lumbar) surgery typically involves incisions as large as 5 to 6 inches in length, resulting in significant blood loss, greater risk of infection, and hospital stays that can last up to a week. Open surgery also increases the potential for damaging normal tissue, as surgeons have to cut or move healthy muscles and soft tissue out of the way to access the spine. 

Minimally invasive surgery, by contrast, uses specialized instruments and tubes that allow access to the spine through small incisions only 1-2 inches long. These precision techniques have many benefits for patients.

As with any procedure, minimally invasive spine surgery involves some big decisions, including selecting a surgeon, hospital, rehabilitation program, and follow-up care plan. Patients should look for spine surgeons with a proven track record who can recommend and perform the best treatment options for a quick recuperation and pain-free life.

Minimally Invasive Outpatient Spine Surgery

MOR is home to Illinois’ first health center dedicated exclusively to minimally invasive spine surgery in an outpatient setting, which leads to even faster recovery by enabling patients to start moving sooner after surgery. Here, patients can choose outpatient surgery from the best spine surgeons in the Chicago area at one of the leading teaching hospitals in the state.

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Outpatient Spine Surgery: