There are lots of advantages to undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) for both the patient and the doctor, and they can have less dangerous side effects than other spinal surgeries. Not all spinal conditions can be corrected with this procedure, however. It’s best to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lipani at Princeton Neurological Surgery to figure out if you are the right candidate for this treatment.
We’ll discuss what the advantages of choosing MISS are and which conditions are typically included.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Many people opt for spinal surgeries when non-surgical treatments are not working for them. If you are experiencing spinal-related back pain and pain medication is not working, or physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation have not helped, you may be a good candidate for this procedure.
Some spinal conditions require immediate attention from your doctor based on certain symptoms, so it’s important to get a check-up before moving forward with any type of treatment. However, MISS is typical for treating conditions such as:
- Deformity corrections for scoliosis or kyphosis
- Degenerative or ‘slipped’ disks
- Spinal tumors
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Infections in the spine
Advantages
MISS allows for doctors to make smaller incisions instead of long cuts through the skin to see the area that needs treatment. Using a fluoroscopic tube, which is a real-time x-ray machine, they are able to navigate the spinal structure and make the necessary corrections.
With a smaller incision site, there is less of a chance of complications occurring, and patients can expect much shorter recovery times. This means no long hospital stays afterward, and the ability to participate in regular life activities soon after.
If you’re suffering from persistent pain in your spine or any other spinal condition, MISS may be the right option for you. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Lipani at Princeton Neurological Surgery at our locations in Hamilton or Bridgewater, NJ by calling 609-890-3400.
