Conservative treatment is always the first option for spine problems, but when your pain persists, minimally invasive surgery may be the best choice for restoring your health and wellness. At American Neurospine Institute, PLLC, Ripul Panchal, DO, has extensive experience performing spinal surgery. Dr. Panchal also has a great reputation for taking time with each patient, explaining their treatment options and overseeing their recovery to ensure they achieve the best results. If you have questions about minimally invasive surgery or you need to schedule an appointment, call the office in Frisco, Texas, or use the online booking feature.
Minimally Invasive Surgery Q & A
What is minimally invasive surgery?
Minimally invasive surgery is performed using small incisions and specialized surgical instruments that are easily inserted through the incisions. During minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Panchal may use an operating microscope or an endoscope fitted with a video camera to get a magnified view of the surgical site.
As a specialist in spinal disorders and surgery, Dr. Panchal stays up to date with the latest technology. He produces exceptional results performing image-guided minimally invasive surgery, and in some patients, he uses computer- or robot-assisted technology.
What benefits do I gain from minimally invasive surgery?
When you have a minimally invasive procedure, you avoid the trauma caused by open surgery. Open surgery is performed by making one long incision that cuts through all the tissues, including your muscles. Then the tissues are pulled back to create an opening large enough for the surgeon’s hands to access your spine.
By comparison, minimally invasive spine surgery eliminates all that trauma. It’s also a muscle-sparing procedure. When Dr. Panchal makes the small incision, he stops cutting at the muscles. Instead of cutting the muscle, he inserts a retractor between the muscle fibers, then gently stretches the fibers to create the small opening needed for the surgical tools.
Additional health benefits of minimally invasive surgery include:
- Reduced pain after surgery
- Less bleeding during surgery
- Lower risk of infection
- Minimal scarring
- Quicker recovery
In many cases, minimally invasive spinal surgery only requires a local anesthetic, and it’s an outpatient procedure so you can go home the same day. When you need to stay in the hospital, minimally invasive surgery reduces your inpatient time compared to open surgery.
What spinal procedures are performed using minimally invasive surgery?
Many of the spine surgeries that once required open surgery can now be done with minimally invasive techniques, including:
- Discectomy
- Disc replacement
- Foraminotomy
- Laminectomy
- Oblique lumbar interbody fusion
- Midline approach to lumbar fusion
These surgical procedures are often used to treat conditions such as:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal instability
- Scoliosis
- Spinal tumors
- Spinal stenosis
- Fractured vertebrae
- Degenerative disc disease
If you need spinal surgery and you’d like to learn more about minimally invasive surgery, call American Neurospine Institute or schedule an appointment online.