MISS Basics

What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

Using innovative techniques, cutting-edge technology, and evidence-based-medicine, minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) may be a treatment option for your spinal disorder or chronic back and neck pain.

Compared to traditional open spine surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery utilizes the knowledge of important anatomy, along with specially designed technology, to treat your spinal condition without causing undue injury to the surrounding soft tissues. Computer-assisted technology (such as computer navigation and nerve monitoring) and highly specialized tools and instrumentation provide for the safe and effective treatment of your pain. Minimally invasive surgery is not one operation, but rather involves a set of principles that can be applied across different types of surgeries in different regions of the spine. Some of the main principles include smaller incisions, muscle-sparing techniques, the use of natural anatomic planes, avoiding collateral damage to soft tissue and bone at other levels, and, where applicable, motion preservation.

 

Advantages of MISS include:

  • Less post-operative pain
  • Quicker recovery
  • Reduced blood loss
  • Less soft tissue damage
  • Smaller surgical incisions
  • Lower infection rate
  • Less scarring
  • Improved function

 

Potential Risks:

As with any surgical procedure, including MISS, there are generalized risks and procedure-specific risks including but not limited to:

  • Adverse reaction to anesthetic
  • Blood clots in the legs
  • Infection at the surgical site
  • Blood loss
  • Injury to the nerves or spinal cord resulting in pain or even paralysis

 
Minimally Invasive Procedures:

The field of spine surgery is rapidly evolving to include a variety of new techniques and technology that allow surgeons to treat spinal pathology with minimally invasive procedures. Despite requiring new and specific surgical skill sets, the promise of these new approaches include less soft tissue trauma, decreased blood loss, faster post-operative recovery and better long-term outcomes. A growing amount of recent and current research serves to explore these benefits and inform recommendations regarding best practices in treating patients.

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