At the 12th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + the Future of Spine, June 12 in Chicago, Raqeeb Haque, MD, neurosurgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, discussed minimally invasive spine surgery and the paradigms it changes.
"The move to minimally invasive spine procedures is resulting in better outcomes for patients, as it involves less pain, less blood loss, quicker recovery times as well as decreases psychological stress," said Dr. Haque.
Here are eight concepts that surgeons must understand about MIS surgery to make it work for them, according to Dr. Haque:
• Good MIS surgery requires an absolute "mind's eye" understanding of 3D anatomy of the patient.
• Adequate visualization does not require large incisions.
• Operative fields are focal.
• Exact midline can be reached through a para-median incision.
• MIS surgery conceptually and fundamentally changes the nature of the surgery performed.
• Decompression does not necessary require laminectomy.
• Aggressive spine surgery can be performed without changing the fundamental biomechanics of the spine.
• Many open surgeries can be done using minimally invasive techniques
In terms of clinical implications, MIS surgery is a superior technique to open surgery, according to Dr. Haque. "We are approaching the point where we are performing all spine surgeries using MIS techniques," he said.
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