About This Blog:
- It should come as no surprise that minimally invasive spine surgery generally produces better results than the traditional, open surgery approach.
- Although we tout the many benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery often, today we’re sharing results from a study comparing the two techniques.
- In this blog, Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine shares results from a study published in the Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques.
As an expert and early adopter of minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine has witnessed first-hand the many benefits of this method over the more traditional, open spine surgery approach. Nevertheless, the spine and neurosurgeon understands statistics and medical studies speak volumes when it comes to deciding which surgery technique to undergo.
Although minimally invasive surgeries are performed more often than open spine surgeries, traditional surgeries are still an option. Therefore, it's important patients review their options and decide the best possible surgery option for them. According to the Journal of Spinal Disorder and Techniques, minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) procedures reported much better results than the open surgery method in the following ways:
1. For minimally invasive and open procedures, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) clinical scores were both significantly higher after surgery than before surgery.
2. When compared with one another, patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery reported significantly lower VAS scores during the early postoperative stage of recovery.
3. Minimally invasive TLIF patients had an average hospital stay of 4.1 days compared to open surgery patients who were at the hospital an average of 7.4 days.
4. Average blood loss for minimally invasive TLIF patients was significantly lower than open surgery patients. Those in the open surgery group reported a 620 mL blood loss compared to a 230 mL blood loss for those in the minimally invasive group.
5. Both surgery groups reported good implant stability during their follow-up appointments.
These statistics, originally posted in Becker’s Spine Review, demonstrate the value behind a minimally invasive surgery option compared to an open surgery treatment approach. It is possible to have beneficial results from open surgery, but more often than not minimally invasive surgery leads to less blood loss, a reduced recovery time, and a decreased risk of infection. Moreover, minimally invasive surgery spares vital muscles, tendons, and ligaments from being cut. If you’re looking for an expert in minimally invasive spine surgery, look no further than Dr. Mark Giovanini of NeuroMicroSpine!
To request an appointment, please visit our appointment tab or call one of our locations. We hope to see you soon!
For more information on minimally invasive spine surgery or to make an appointment with Dr. Giovanini, please call (850) 934-7545 or visit https://www.neuromicrospine.com/request-appointment.
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.