The Many Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

If you suffer from spinal stenosis or any other persistent spinal condition, or if you've injured your spine in some way, you could require spinal surgery in Atlanta. If this is the case, be sure to ask whether a minimally invasive procedure is available to treat your condition. Opting for minimally invasive spine surgery can offer you some major benefits over more traditional surgical methods.

Faster Recovery

One of the greatest benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery is the reduced recovery time. While any spinal surgery is going to have you off your feet for some time, the time period can be greatly reduced if a minimally invasive procedure is available. You'll recover from the surgery much more quickly and be able to get back to your normal routine sooner. The speedier recovery will also reduce the likelihood of any complications as you recover. Many people re-injure themselves after back surgery because they attempt things their body is not prepared for. But when your body gets back to normal more quickly, this is less likely to happen.

Reduced Risks

Any time a surgery is performed, there are risks involved. But those risks significantly increase if large, open incisions are required during the operation. This increases the risk of infections in the surgical wound, and other potential problems. With a minimally invasive surgery the incision site is smaller. 

Another benefit of minimally invasive surgery is the avoidance of not completely detaching the muscle of the spine. This not only keeps the tissue healthier with blood flowing, but by doing so it assists in quicker recovery. 

Overall, your risk of infection and other complications is significantly decreased when your operation is performed with minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Smaller Scars

A smaller surgical incision will obviously mean a smaller scar on your back. While this might seem like a minor cosmetic detail, it is something many patients consider. Those with large scars from spinal surgeries sometimes go to great lengths to cover up their scars. Minimally invasive procedures will keep scarring to a minimum so you don't have to feel self-conscious in your skin.

Less Pain

As with recovery time, any form of surgery is going to come with some measure of discomfort. However, minimally invasive surgery typically causes a lot less pain among patients. This has a lot to do with the size of the incision sites, avoidance of cutting into as much surrounding muscle, as well as the stitches required to close up those sites. Minimally invasive spine surgery uses precision techniques and advanced technology to not only reduce the size of the incision sites, but to ensure that no other parts of your spine are exposed during the procedure.

This can significantly reduce your overall pain so your recovery is much more comfortable. You may even find yourself requiring a lower dosage of pain medication to handle the discomfort, and thus you can feel more like your normal self  during your recovery.

As technology continues to advance, minimally invasive surgeries are becoming more and more common. From spinal procedures to appendectomies, surgeries are performed every day with the assistance of tools and technology that make them faster, safer, and easier. If you have any questions, or want to learn more about having a minimally invasive surgery to treat your spinal stenosis in Atlanta, contact your local OrthoAtlanta office today.