Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

A safe spine surgery, with superior clinical outcomes in complex spinal problems
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) is performed through multiple ports. Specialized instruments and equipment are required to perform the surgery. The main advantage of minimally invasive surgery is decreased blood loss and decreased post-operative pain.

Using MISS- screws, bone grafts and cages can all be inserted as conventional spine surgery, but through smaller incisions. The only word of caution in MISS is that it relies on extensive intra operative imaging for placement of ports and screws, increasing the amount of radiation to both the patient and surgical team.

To decrease the radiation/ X-Ray shots taken during surgery, Image – Guided Neuro-Navigation plays a significant role. It guides the correct placement of ports/implants, besides confirming the adequacy of surgery. This is checked real time, making spine surgery extremely safe, specific and targeted.

In addition, the use of Spinal Cord and Neuro-Monitoring during surgery further enhances safety in high demand challenging situations.

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery:
• Less post-operative pain
• Smaller incisions (rather than one large incision)
• Less scarring
• Less soft tissue and muscle damage
• Reduced blood loss during surgery
• Quicker Recovery
• Shorter Hospital stay

Touching Lives:
47 year-old came to Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, with complaints of severe low back pain radiating towards legs for last 2 years. She tried physiotherapy and medications for a long time but didn’t get much relief. She was diagnosed to have ‘listhesis’ which means slipping of the back bone or one vertebra over other, usually occurring at the base of the spine.
The Spine surgeons at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai performed a Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (fixation). In Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) the muscles were retracted using multiple small key hole approaches, which significantly reduces muscle detachment from the bony spine. Compared to the traditional open procedure(s) where a long midline incision is made over the spine and using this incision, the muscles are retracted to gain access to the spine, the procedure results in less muscle damage. Minimal invasive spine surgery also avoids prolonged retraction and detachment from bone.
With the advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, the patient made a quicker recovery and was discharged sooner than expected.

Dr. Ram Chaddha
Consultant, Spine Surgeon
Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai