Minimally invasive techniques are the standard procedures for spinal surgery. The aim of minimally invasive surgery is to do the same operation with less pain, potential complications, and side effects and with the better or same outcomes. The benefits of this procedure include less pain, less loss of blood, lower risk of infection after having the surgery, less damage to the tissue and collateral musculature, and earlier return to the daily routine.

Minimally invasive techniques include:

For cervical spine:

·         Foraminotomy and disectomy: This type of surgery is used to treat herniated disc, but it also works effectively in relieving pain of arm that is caused by the pressure of nerve from the arthritic bone spurs. This surgery can widen the opening in the back where the roots of nerves leave the spinal canal.

·         Fusion: Fusion is one type of minimally invasive technique that is used to treat fractures and trauma of spine. Especially this surgery is designed to eliminate the motion at the painful vertebral part that would decrease the pain caused from the joint.

·         Foraminotomy fusion: This is a medical procedure that provides relief from pressures of compressed nerves. A foraminotomy fusion would be performed either as minimally invasive or conservative.

·         Decompression Resection: Spinal decompression surgery is the combination of several procedures that would be intended to provide relief from symptoms that are caused by compression, or pressure, on the nerve roots or spinal cord.

For thoracic Spine:

 Minimally invasive techniques are also used to treat thoracic spine.

·         Costotransversectomy: This is used to treat the herniated disc. This technique allows surgeon to access ventral thoracic spine for many kinds of spinal disorders that include degeneration, tumor, infection and trauma.

·         Thoracoscopic surgery: This is used for tumors. This is a robotic surgery performed on the VATS platform. This procedure involves four steps. The robot would be used to cut the rib and to divide the muscles of scalene.

For Lumbar spine:

·         Disectomy:  This surgery is performed to remove the herniated disc from a spinal canal. Herniated disc causes pressure on the nerves.  The surgical procedure can remove the spinal disc fragment. In this surgery, the surgeon made a small incision to look at the herniated disc and to remove that disc. This will provide relief from the pressure on the nerves.

·         Laminectomy: This is a spine surgery to remove a part of the vertebral bone that is called as lamina. This is a minimally invasive technique, in this surgery some small incisions are made to push the back muscles aside instead of cutting them, and the portion of lamina would leave intact.

Meniscus is a very tiny piece of the cartilage, even it is so small tearing it or torn meniscus may cause severe pain. This meniscus of cartilage is c-shaped and very small, and there are three parts that cushion and protect the knee joint: one between the shin bone and thigh bone (tibia and femur), one is on the outer side of the knee this is known as lateral meniscus, and the other one is medical meniscus which is on the inside of knee.

The meniscus can be usually injured by squatting down or twisting on foot and bending the knee forcefully. Occasionally a torn occurs with a little compression on the knee. Torn may occur due to the damage to the tissue since a long time as a result of diseases such as knee arthritis.

The most common case for a torn meniscus is due to degenerative process and traumatic injury. The traumatic meniscus torn occurs when the knee is twisted and the joint of the knee is bent.

Treatment:

Treatment for a torn meniscus depends on different factors that include the type of the torn, activity level of the person, and response or reaction to the simple treatments. Arthroscopic surgery is usually recommended to treat the torn meniscus. This surgery would remove the tissues that are torn and saves the meniscus that is healthy. Without a surgical treatment, the tear would likely go on with fragments and activity of the torn meniscus that can damage the smooth articular cartilage of the knee that would result not only pain but it may also lead to arthritis.

Types of arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus:

Surgery for a torn meniscus includes removal of meniscus, meniscus replacement, or meniscus repair. Meniscus repair would have been successful in most of the patients and the complications are at very low rate through this procedure. Meniscus repair is an elective method of arthroscopic surgery, so it can be scheduled depending on the patient’s needs, but it is best to perform within two months after the knee injury. This arthroscopic surgery can be performed by doing several small incisions to the knee area and repairing and examining the tissue. Three small portals or holes are made in the knee. Through one of the portals the arthroscope is inserted. Saline solution is sent through the second portal to improve maneuverability and visibility of the instruments. The third portal is used for working tools. The tools and arthroscope are roughly 4.5mm in diameter. In this process the fragment of the torn is then cut and removed. The edges of the remaining meniscus would be shaved smoothly. Any gliding cartilage can also be shaved smoothly. Finally large amount of saline is flushed through the knee area to wash out the tiny particles, which are lying on the surface. The incisions are then closed with a small stitch and a pain reliever would be injected into the knee joint this will act for a long time. This surgery can be done under local or general anesthesia and it takes about 60 to 120 minutes to complete. If you have decided to undergo the arthroscopic surgery, it is essential to choose a qualified orthopedic surgeon.

Minimally invasive techniques or less invasive techniques are the future of medicine. Most of the surgical procedures carried today prefer to use minimally invasive methods instead of opting for traditional open surgery.

Minimally invasive techniques consist of less exposure and less surgical trauma to the patient. So, there is less blood loss, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery after undergoing the surgery.

Here are few minimally invasive techniques performed to the spine:

1. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion – This surgery is performed to remove the discs and/or bone spurs that put pressure on the nerve roots.

2. Cervical discectomy – This surgery is performed to reduce pressure on nerve roots for the patients who are suffering from back and neck pain caused by ruptured or herniated discs at the upper part of spine.

3. Thoracic lateral fusion – Few conditions need the reconstruction of anterior of the spine. This lateral fusion approach can be used to decrease the risks associated with the thoracic spine.

4. Thoracic posterior fusion – This surgery is performed to stabilize the spine. If it is left untreated, it may lead to nerve/spinal cord injury. In posterior fusion, rods and screws are used to give necessary support for the spine.

5. Lumbar lateral interbody fusion – This procedure is conducted to the patients with instability, degeneration or physical deformities in the lower spine. This procedure removes the intervertebral disc from the affected location and replaces it using a bone graft.

6. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion – It is used to remove the damaged intervertebral discs and combine the vertebrae to reduce painful symptoms in lower back.

7. Lumbar posterior fusion – It is used to join the vertebrae in lumbar spine in people with conditions like spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis.

8. Lumbar miscrodiscectomy – It is used to relieve pressure on the nerve roots that is resulting from herniated disc.

9. Lumbar laminectomy – It is used to reduce pressure of the pinached nerve. It is helpful for people with conditions like disc degeneration and spinal stenosis.

10. Vertebroplasty – It is used to treat vertebral compression fractures that are also called as the fractures of vertebrae. This condition is often the result of spinal tumors, injury, and osteoporosis. These conditions can result in limited mobility and severe nerve pain.

11. Kyphoplasty – It is used to correct vertebral compression fractures within the spine. These fractures are often resulting due to any traumatic injury, osteoporosis, or spinal tumors. This surgery is very much beneficial for people with metastatic tumors or osteoporosis.

These minimally invasive techniques when performed under the hands of an experienced orthopaedic surgeon can give effective results.