Spine surgery is rarely an initial treatment for back pain, however, there are a few circumstances that may require surgical treatment. In the vast majority of patients, spine surgery is only considered after a long course of conservative therapy. Most commonly, doctors will advise at least 3 to 6 months of conservative treatment before considering spine surgery. Examples of complex spine surgery include Discectomy, Spinal Fusion, and Spinal Disc Replacement.
Minimally invasive spinal surgery is a collection of surgical techniques that allows the spinal problem to be corrected using small surgical incisions. Compared to traditional spine surgery, minimally invasive spinal procedures are less damaging to the muscles and other soft tissues around the spine. Also, a quicker recovery from surgery is anticipated with minimally invasive surgery. Other advantages of minimally invasive spinal surgery include less bleeding, shorter hospital stay and a lower rate of postoperative infections compared to traditional spinal surgery. |
