What is a minimally invasive spine surgery?

An endoscopic procedure that uses advanced video cameras and instruments that are passed through small incisions (less than 2 cm) in the back, chest or abdomen to reach the spine and perform the required surgery is minimally invasive spine surgery.

For many decades, endoscopic procedures have been used, mostly for diagnostic purposes only. Endoscopic methods were developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s so that both a diagnosis could be made and the disease could be treated. These same endoscopic procedures have also been advanced for the treatment of spine conditions used in other surgical disciplines.

However, not every patient is a candidate for a minimally invasive spine surgery approach. You need to be thoroughly examined by a surgeon competent and trained in these minimally invasive procedures for spine surgery to see whether you are a candidate for this approach to spinal tumours, deformity, trauma, or degenerative disease.

What are the conditions that are suitable?

Minimally invasive techniques can speed recovery, reduce post-operative pain and improve the final outcome in some cases of degenerative discs, scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal column tumours, infection, fractures and herniated discs. At Mr Ivan Bhaskar’s Clinic, several forms of minimally invasive spine surgery are carried out including:

• Spinal fusion, frequently done on degenerative discs

• Corrections of deformity, for example for scoliosis

• Repair of discs with herniation

• Spinal tumour decompression

• Fix and stabilisation of fractures with vertebral compression

What are the advantages of spine surgery that is minimally invasive?

There are some benefits to minimally invasive spine surgery over open surgery, which usually involves large incisions, muscle stripping, more anaesthesia, a lengthy hospital stay, and a long recovery time. Spine surgery's advantages include:

• A few small scars instead of one huge scar

• A few days instead of a week, shorter hospital stay

• Reduced post-surgical discomfort

• A few months instead of a year, shorter recovery time and a smoother return to everyday activities, including work.

• Less loss of blood during a procedure

• Reduced infection risk

Wrapping Up

Both physicians are fellowship-trained and board-certified or board-eligible in orthopaedic surgery, medical spine or neurosurgery at the Mr Ivan Bhaskar’s Clinic Center for Spine Health. Moreover, our surgeons have expertise in sub-specialties and years of experience in spine surgery.

Both staff radiologists at the Mr Ivan Bhaskar are board-certified or board-eligible or have an international equivalent of radiology. Board-certified or board-eligible in physical medicine and rehabilitation, or have the international equivalent, are all Mr Ivan Bhaskar personnel rehabilitation professionals.