The Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery

by Kevin Smith Author

Since the early days of rudimentary medicine, humans have studied the skeleton in efforts to understand how it works and how to fix it. Back pain and spinal conditions were treated with herbal remedies with little to no effect. The spine and the human skeleton remained a mystery until around 3,000 BC. Archeologists discovered Egyptian mummies from this period that showed signs of primitive spinal surgery. However, it was Hippocrates who advanced the practice through extensive study of the spine and copious volumes of symptoms and treatments for back and skeletal problems. Medicine has come a long way since 400 BC, but the most important advances, according to spine care doctors in Jacksonville, FL, have come in the last few decades.

Advances in Spinal Surgery Technology

Digital fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that creates real-time moving images of the internal organs. Doctors can watch the human heart beating live without opening the patient’s chest. More advanced than an X-ray, digital fluoroscopy is also used during surgery to administer medication or maneuver surgical instruments internally. Endoscopy also allows the doctor to see inside your body with tiny cameras that are no bigger than a pencil eraser. Surgical tools have also become smaller and more maneuverable. In the past, when a patient needed spinal surgery, the doctor would make a long incision beside the spine and use forceps to pry the skin back. Understandably, they needed to be able to see what they were operating on. Now with the help of image guidance systems like digital fluoroscopy and endoscopy, the doctor only has to make a few small incisions for the camera and any surgical tools.

Recovery Time and Healing

Since your doctor doesn’t have to make large incisions to perform surgery anymore, recovery times and the healing process are considerably shorter than they used to be. Some surgeries can even be performed in the office with minimal anesthesia. You can be home and resting within a few hours after a major surgery whereas in the past a spinal fusion surgery would require at least a two-week stay in a hospital. Major surgery can also damage the muscles and tendons around the surgery site which would slow down the healing process and increase inflammation. The risk of infection was also higher before minimally invasive spinal surgery because of more internal parts were exposed during surgery. Only the right spine care doctors in Jacksonville, FL, can determine your candidacy for minimally invasive spinal surgery. Contact your local specialist today for a consultation.