MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE SURGERY

WHY MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE SURGERY?

At the Tampa Back Institute, we believe in using the most state-of-the-art techniques to treat out patients. Our mission of ensuring that our patients get back to living their normal life, as efficiently as possible, relies on advancements in the medical field. By using minimally invasive surgery, our patients recovery faster, experience less pain, and walk away with a minor scar, if at all (See image below for example of expected incision.

Incision of less than 3cm

MICRODISCECTOMY

This surgical procedure can decompress nerve tissue by removing part of the spinal disc.  This procedure can alleviate symptoms caused by nerve compression, such as weakness, and pain in the arms or legs.  This surgery utilizes minimally invasive techniques to spare the removal of paraspinal muscles, which improves patient’s postoperative recovery and pain. In conclusion,  the goal of this technique is to improve symptoms by removal of disc material that compresses the nerves.

MICROLAMINECTOMY

This surgical procedure decompresses nerve tissue by removing part of the lamina, a bony structure of the spine.  This surgery utilizes minimally invasive techniques to spare the muscle around the spine which improves the patient’s post-op recovery and pain. Thus,  the goal of this technique is to decompress nerve tissue to improve patient’s function.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINAL FUSION

This surgical procedure stabilizes segments of the spine and decompresses nerve tissue.  A laminectomy and discectomy, both performed during the procedure, provides the decompression of the nerve tissue. Hardware, placed across the fusing segments, stabilizes the spine and facilitates the growth of the bone. This procedure is performed to improve not only pain in the extremity or weakness but also low back pain.  The minimally invasive techniques utilized to provide the patient with minimal post-op recovery, blood loss, muscle removal, and pain.

VERTEBRAL AUGMENTATION

Vertebral Augmentation typically stabilizes fracture fragments of the spine.  A small incision made to allow a needle to pass through the bony structure, called the pedicle, allows access to the fracture site and the vertebral body.  Lastly, a cement substance, placed through the needle, stabilizes the fracture fragments and reduces pain.  Furthermore, patients do not have to be anesthetized for this procedure.

KYPHOPLASTY

Kyphoplasties treat fractures of the spinal bone. First, a small skin incision, made large enough to allow a needle to access the bony process, or pedicle, allows access to the fracture site within the vertebral body.  Through the needle, a water filled balloon device restores height loss from the fracture.  Finally, the cavity, created from the water balloon, gets filled with cement.  Therefore, stabilizing the fracture fragments and reducing pain. The animation below demonstrates the process.