According to the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke, roughly 80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Although this is very unfortunate for those suffering, a neurosurgeon can help. Much of the time, back problems are due to spine disorders, whether it’s a bulging disc or scoliosis, and they can be treated with minimally-invasive spine surgery. There are some misconceptions about minimally-invasive spine surgery, and those are about to be debunked.
Myth 1: A long recovery is needed after minimally-invasive spine surgery
Traditional open spinal surgery typically requires a long incision in the back, which has a higher risk of complications. Minimally-invasive spine surgery involves only a very small incision, which means there is less bleeding, minimal scarring, and a much shorter recovery time. The area treated with minimally-invasive spine surgery is significantly reduced, so patients do not need extended stays in the hospital compared to traditional procedures. In fact, some patients even go home the same day as their surgery.
Myth 2: You’ll soon need another surgery
Some people think that additional surgical treatments will be needed after the initial spine surgery, but that is not the case. When the correct diagnosis and procedure is applied, additional surgery is very unlikely. Minimally-invasive spine surgery should significantly improve the patient’s condition, so no more surgery should be necessary.
Myth 3: My spine problems are too complicated
Some patients may believe that their spinal issues are too complicated to be solved by minimally-invasive surgery. They would be wrong. There are very few problems that are too complicated for minimally-invasive spine surgery. This is a surgical option that can cover the entire spectrum of spine conditions. When equal or better results can be seen over open surgery, it is used.
Myth 4: Minimally-invasive surgery is always appropriate
While there are many benefits of minimally-invasive spine surgery, and it can be used in many situations, it is not always the best option. Traditional spine surgery is the best option for about 20% of cases that most spinal surgeons see. It is important to pick the correct procedure for a treatment as serious has a spinal surgery.
Minimally-invasive spine surgery is great for many patients. It has a quicker recovery time, covers most spinal problems, and is likely to be a one-and-done type of surgery. However, it is not always the best for everyone. For more information, give us a call today.