A GUIDE TO MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE PROCEDURES
Have you tried everything to relieve your neck or back pain? When conservative treatment fails, minimally invasive spine spine procedures can succeed.
Pain in the neck, shoulders, back – even legs and feet – can all originate in the spine. The pain can be stabbing, jolting or dull. It can strike when you’re sitting, standing or exercising. No matter how it presents itself, it can seriously limit your enjoyment of life.
Incision of the spinal nerve
Spinal nerve incision is done through a procedure called a neurotomy. When a spinal nerve is incised, it typically results in less pain. This procedure can be done to several different nerves in the back and neck. In most cases, the targeted nerves are the small nerve branches of the facet joints located in the back of the spine. This procedure typically eliminates of the spine. This procedure typically eliminates.
Laminotomy
This procedure removes part of the lamina of a vertebral arch in order to relieve pressure in the vertebral canal. Laminotomies are commonlyperformed as a treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis and herniated disc. MRI and CT scans are often used pre- and post-surgery to determine if the procedure was successful.
Foraminotomy
A foraminotomy is a procedure used to relieve pressure on the nerves that are being compressed by the intervertebral foramina, the passages through the bones of the vertebrae of the spine that pass nerve bundles to the body from the spinal cord.
The actual size of the incision is usually less than an inch.
Compare that to 6-8 inches for open back surgery. You walk out of the outpatient procedure room the same day and recover faster.
Laser Spine Procedures
- Less than 1/4” incision
- Outpatient- return home same day
- Return to work and activities in DAYS, not weeks
- Medicare and insurance accepted
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Less than 1” incision
- Outpatient- return home same day
- Return to work and activities in weeks, not months
- Medicare and insurance accepted
Other Clinics
- Minimum 6” incision
- Inpatient – Patient must stay overnight in hospital
- Return to activities in months
- Preauthorization by medicare and insurance
A small incision can make a big difference to your quality of life. Ask a patient representative about minimally invasive spine procedures
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Instructions before, during and after the procedure
A nurse from the outpatient surgery center will contact you prior to your procedure to review your health history, medications and pre-operative instructions.
Please notify your surgeon if there is a change in your physical condition such as a cold, fever, wounds of any kind anywhere on the body, or respiratory problems.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure, including hard candy.
Failure to follow these instructions may result in cancellation of your procedure
Be sure to tell your surgeon if you are on any type of blood thinners or aspirin. Please do not take any medications after midnight unless instructed by your surgeon or the nurse at the surgery center.
It is extremely important to arrange for a responsible adult, of at least 18 years of age, to accompany you to the surgery center and remain with you for the first 24 hours after discharge.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing that is large enough to accommodate any bandages or dressings after your procedure. Wear comfortable shoes such as slip-ons.
You will need to change into a surgical gown once you are in the pre-op area.
Do not wear any jewelry (including body piercings), makeup or cologne. Do not bring any valuables with you.
Bring your ID and insurance cards with you on the day of surgery. Contingent upon your insurance, you may have a financial responsibility due on the day of surgery. Please bring your credit card or debit card, cash or money order. You may also prearrange for financing if needed.
Wearing of contact lenses is NOT advised. We provide containers for removable dentures and bridgework.
You will be discharged to your vehicle by wheelchair. Remember, you must have a responsible adult, at least 18 years of age, present to drive you home and to care for you following surgery.
Your surgeon will provide post-operative instructions regarding diet, rest, exercise, stretches and medication. You will be provided with a written summary of these discharge instructions.
A nurse will attempt to call you the day after your surgery to check on your progress and discuss any questions you may have. If you have any unexpected problems, please contact the office at 813-682-0347
If it is after hours or on a weekend, our answering service will take your call and forward your information to our on-call staff, who will respond as soon as possible.
Minimally invasive laminotomy
A laminotomy is sometimes used in conjunction with foraminotomy to give the surgeon a better view of the spinal column.
But don’t be concerned about a big incision, prolonged downtime or excessive pain. Unlike traditional open-back surgery that amounts to days in the hospital, our minimally invasive spine surgeons use a tiny incision, narrow muscle-sparing dilators, and a system called intraoperative neuromonitoring to safeguard your neural system and decrease the likelihood of post-operative pain.
Among the spinal conditions that may be treatable with laminotomy are:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated disc
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Sciatica
- Spondylosis (also known as spinal osteoarthritis)
Don’t put a full life on hold any longer – call now for your free insurance verification and consultation with our world-renowned minimally invasive spine specialists today.
Foraminotomy – take the pressure off
Life with formanimal pain is unpredictable. One day you feel fine, but ride a bike or work at your desk for a long stretch, and suddenly you feel an excruciating burning in your neck or shoulder. You’ve felt this before, but brushed it off. But now it’s getting more frequent and intense.
Foraminotomy may be the answer. Don’t let the long name (for-a-min-AH-to-mee) put you off. It is a minimally invasive spine procedure that widens the tunnel through which nerve bundles pass from the spinal cord to the rest of the body. The procedure relieves pressure on the nerve root that is causing your terrible pain. The result is freedom of movement without pain.
Foraminotomy can help if you have been diagnosed with:
- Degenerative spine disorders
- Invertebral disc prolapse
- Foraminal stenosis (narrowing)
- Spondylosis
Even if those words mean nothing to you now, our physician can perform and MRI or CT scan with myelogram and give you a fast and accurate diagnosis.
Foraminal pain is difficult to relieve without surgery. Traction or avoiding certain activities can offer relief – but that puts big restriction on your life.
RELIEF IS HERE – The good news is foraminotomies can be done in a minimally invasive way. That means:
- It’s an outpatient procedure – no hospital stay
- The incision is small enough to cover with a Band-Aid – the old way leaves a 5- to 6-inch scar
- The recovery is fast – you walk out the same day and can go back to work in days or weeks, not months
Our procedures are endoscopic, meaning the surgeon works through narrow tubes and magnified images. Muscles and tissue surrounding the surgery site are gently spread apart, not cut and torn. The end result is less risk of infection, pain and internal scarring.
Don’t waste another minute living in pain!
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery FAQs
Q: Does Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Use Lasers?
A: Sometimes. The term “Laser” is meant to convey the precision of the procedures. These minimally invasive techniques directly target the affected area while touching almost nothing else, acting with laser-like accuracy. But some procedures may still utilize lasers, especially on the soft tissues near the spine.
Q: Is There Any Recovery Time?
A: There is some recovery time with laser spine surgery, but it is significantly shorter than traditional surgery. Most of the time you can go back to non-strenuous activity after only 1 or 2 weeks, and resume most strenuous activities after one month. That is far shorter than the sometimes 6 months some patients take to recover. But talk to your surgeon, as each individual may have different recovery times.
Q: How Effective is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
A: When performed by a skilled minimally invasive spine surgeon, it is very effective, on par with open surgery. The techniques that are used continue to advance, with better approaches that continue to offer better outcomes.
Q: Is Minimally Invasive Back Surgery Covered by Medicare?
A: Yes! For most patients, Medicare covers some or all of your minimally invasive or laser spine surgery. However, keep in mind that different plans may offer different payments. If you contact us, we are happy to provide you with a benefits check to ensure that you are covered, or let you know how much it may be out of pocket.
Q: How Do I Know if I’m a Candidate?
A: The best way to find out if you are a candidate for laser spine procedure or minimally invasive spine surgery is to contact us today for a consultation. We can talk to you about the available options – not just for spine surgery, but also for pain management – and see what is causing your pain and what treatment techniques are best for you.
