MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE surgery allows a surgeon to accomplish similar goals as open spine surgery but through a much smaller incision with less tissue disruption. The result is pain relief and return of function with less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, quicker return to activities and less need for pain medicine. Many well-designed studies have now confirmed the advantages of minimally invasive spine surgery over more typical open surgery.

Minimally invasive spine surgery is facilitated by microscopic magnification, specialized retractors and instruments, and advanced techniques. At times, endoscopic equipment is used to perform minimally invasive spinal procedures in a similar fashion as it has been used for years in orthopedic sports medicine procedures such as knee and shoulder scopes. Discectomy procedures can be performed to relieve sciatica through tiny poke incisions using the endoscope. In addition, the endoscope can be used to facilitate truly percutaneous spinal fusion procedures to relieve the pain of various spinal conditions using only a small Band-Aid sized wound. This can avoid all the morbidity, pain and dysfunction that results from larger muscle stripping in open spinal surgery.

A SUBSPECIALTY REQUIRING ADVANCED TRAINING
Despite several advancements, minimally invasive techniques available in spinal surgery are still not the standard of care. Most spinal surgeons still use open techniques. Although minimally invasive techniques have been used for many years in urology, general surgery and orthopedic sports medicine, minimally invasive spine surgery has been slow to propagate. Advanced minimally invasive spine surgery techniques require advanced training and experience to master, and there is a very steep learning curve. Surgeons not familiar with the techniques can become frustrated early with training and abandon these newer techniques. Minimally invasive spine surgery has really become a subspecialty within the field of spinal surgery and is used by a select few.

The Spine Center at the Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge has always taken pride in being on the cutting edge of minimally invasive spine surgery techniques. We have employed minimally invasive techniques such as percutaneous fusions, endoscopic discectomies, rhizotomies and other surgeries for many years. Additionally, we have continued to train in and develop the latest procedures in minimally invasive spine surgeries.

USE OF LASER DEVICES IN SPINE SURGERY
Laser devices have been available for use in spine surgery for many years. However, it is not until recently through the process of improved instruments, improved techniques, lower pricing and targeted marketing power that laser use has become more realistic. Laser is a device that generates a very narrow, intense and highly concentrated beam of light. When combined with current minimally invasive techniques, laser technology gives us yet another tool to effectively treat spine-related conditions. Laser devices can be used with endoscopic or minimally invasive tools to ablate disc herniations in order to alleviate nerve-related leg pain, seal the outer layer of the disc to prevent recurrent problems with the spine, and to ablate the facet joints of the spine to alleviate back pain. In addition, laser devices are now being used in minimally invasive fusion procedures to facilitate spinal decompression.

Spinal laser devices are still relatively rare and are found only in a small number of cities throughout the United States. The Spine Hospital of Louisiana recently became the only facility within 700 miles of Baton Rouge to own and operate a laser device for use in spinal surgery. We are now able to utilize this technology to facilitate minimally invasive spine procedures. This allows further advancements of these techniques and offers Baton Rouge and Louisiana technology that was previously not available in this region. 

The Spine Center at the Bone and Joint Clinic of Baton Rouge | 225.766.0050 | spinecenterbr.com/

CONTACT US:

Dr. McCarthy from the Spine Center performing minimally invasive laser spine surgery at the Spine Hospital of Louisiana.