What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

Minimally invasive spine surgery is an advanced form of surgery, which is used to treat common spinal disorders and conditions including spinal stenosis, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and others. It is deemed minimally invasive because unlike open spine surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery requires a smaller incision, and utilizes tiny surgical instruments and a camera. As such,fewer cuts are made to muscles, and soft tissue during the surgery. This makes minimally invasive surgery typically faster, safer, and requires less recovery time. It is also very effective for many men and women in Los Angeles suffering from chronic pain and neck pain.

Conditions Treated with Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Men and women suffering from neck pain, back pain, and pain radiating into the limbs may be advised that minimally invasive spine surgery will help. Top Los Angeles Spine Surgeon, Dr. K. Rad Payman may recommend minimally invasive spine surgery for patients who don’t respond to other treatments, and who are suffering from:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Fractures in the spine
• Herniated disc
• Infections in the spine
• Scoliosis or other spinal deformities
• Spinal Instability
• Stenosis
• Tumors

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Unlike open surgery, which requires a larger incision, minimally invasive surgery may only require a one-inch incision to be made. This reduces the risk of infection, reduces risk of blood loss, expedites healing time, reduces scarring, reduces risk of muscle damage, reduces need for ongoing prescription pain medication, and reduces the amount of post-operative pain. In some cases, minimally invasive surgery may even be performed as an outpatient surgery, using a local anesthesia, rather than general anesthesia, which also reduces the risk for an adverse reaction.

Types of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Depending upon your unique spinal problem, Dr. K. Rad Payman will determine the best course of minimally invasive surgical treatment. Some of the most common procedures include:

• Cervical Disc Arthroscopy (Disc Replacement)-removal of a degenerated disc, and implantation of an artificial disc in its place
• Discectomy- removal of herniated portion of discor bone spur which is compressing the spinal nerves
• Foraminotomy-enlargement of the neural foramen (pathway for nerves) so that nerves are not compressed
• Kyphoplasty-insertion of liquid filled balloon, to restore vertebrae to proper height and alignment after a fracture
• Laminectomy-removal of the “roof” of the vertebrae, in order to create room for nerves, so that they are no longer being compressed
• Lumbar Fusion Surgery-joining together two or more vertebrae, using atransplanted piece of bone, so that the vertebrae grow and fuse together
• Spinal Decompression-removal of the body (bone, tissue) responsible for narrowing the spinal canal, causing pressure on the nerves
• Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TILF)-placement of bone grafts to treat spinal instability resulting from stenosis, disc disease, or spondylolisthesis

Los Angeles men and women dealing with chronic neck or back pain need to be seen by a top Los Angeles Spine Surgeon. Although the majority of people won’t require spine surgery to get relief from pain, in other cases, surgery may be required. Wherever possible, Dr. K. Rad Payman will employ minimally invasive spine surgery techniques, in order to reduce surgical risks, and expedite your healing time.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. K. Rad Payman to discuss back, neck, and spine pain, please call 818-501-2001 today.