Minimally Invasive Spinal Stenosis Surgery

If you are considering spinal stenosis surgery as a way to relieve the pressure that’s impinging on nerves in your spinal column, you may find through research that there are multiple surgical approaches to choose from.

Surgery is a big step for anyone, so it’s wise to take some time and investigate the benefits, risks, and success rates of any procedure that’s been recommended for your condition.

Sometimes, a highly invasive open spine procedure is recommended to treat nerve compression, while in other cases of spinal stenosis, there is an endoscopic, outpatient surgical alternative available that is minimally invasive, safe, effective, and has a fast recovery period.

What is Involved withOpen Spine Surgery?

Open spinal stenosis surgery is considered highly invasive because a surgeon must make a large incision in the neck, back, side, or abdomen to access the affected area. Additionally, he or she must dissect the musculature and other tissues in order to reach the area of stenosis. Typically, the surgery requires general anesthesia, hospitalization, and will involve the removal of vertebral bone, either the bone surrounding a constricted foramen or laminal bone on the posterior side of the spinal cord, to decompress a nerve root or the spinal cord. If enough bone material is removed that the spine becomes unstable, spinal fusion (utilizing bone grafts, support cages, rods, and screws) may also be necessary to permanently fuse two vertebrae together. The recovery period of open spine surgery is often lengthy and difficult.

What is theEndoscopic Laser Surgery Like?

In endoscopic surgery, an incision no larger than an inch in length is made close to the area of the spine where the symptoms take root. A series of progressively larger tubes is inserted into the incision to carefully create an opening to the spine. Through the final tube, a small scope that is connected to a television monitor is inserted to see the spine and find the exact location of the bone and other tissue that is compressing the nerve.

A laser and other surgical tools are used to remove bits of tissue, open up the spinal canal, and relieve the symptoms of pain, discomfort, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and spasms felt from spinal stenosis. Unlike in open spine surgery where hospitalization is required, minimally invasive spinal stenosis surgery is an outpatient procedure.

A Speedy RecoveryOne of the best features of endoscopic spinal stenosis surgery is the recovery period. Many endoscopic spine surgery patients report immediate relief from their symptoms, but there is still a recovery period, as there is with all surgeries. In general, patients can go home the same day of endoscopic surgery, but then they will return to their doctor for the next two days for postoperative therapy.

After the two postoperative days, patients are free

to go and resume their lives. As with most surgeries,

it is recommended to avoid any heavy lifting or

strenuous activity during the weeks after

endoscopic surgery. However, it only takes about

four to six weeks for patients to fully recover from

the minimally invasive surgery, versus the six to

nine months it takes to fully recover from

open spine surgery.

Consult Other Doctors

If your doctor has suggested that you undergo spinal

stenosis surgery, it may be in your best interest in

obtain a second, third, or even fourth opinion from

other spine specialists. This can help ensure that you

have first exhausted all forms of non-surgical treatment,

and reconfirm or even refute your initial spinal stenosis

diagnosis.