What is minimally invasive spine surgery?
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) refers to a family of surgical techniques that accomplish the same goals as traditional open spine surgery — decompressing nerves, fusing vertebrae, stabilizing the spine — but through smaller incisions using specialized retractors, endoscopes, and fluoroscopic guidance rather than the large open exposures of traditional surgery.
The primary advantage of minimally invasive approaches is reduced disruption to the muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues surrounding the spine. Traditional open surgery requires extensive muscle stripping to access the spine, which causes significant postoperative pain and a prolonged recovery. Minimally invasive techniques preserve more of these structures, resulting in less postoperative pain, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster return to daily activities.
Dr. Enguidanos performs minimally invasive laminectomy, discectomy, foraminotomy, and fusion at HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital and Emerald Coast Surgical Center in Niceville, Florida. He applies minimally invasive techniques whenever the clinical situation permits — but does not force these approaches when open surgery would provide a better outcome.
Common symptoms.
- You are a candidate for minimally invasive surgery if you have any spine condition that would otherwise require open surgery
- Herniated disc causing sciatica or arm pain not responding to conservative care
- Spinal stenosis causing leg pain, weakness, or difficulty walking
- Spondylolisthesis requiring stabilization at one or two levels
- Degenerative disc disease requiring one or two-level fusion
- Vertebral compression fractures requiring cement augmentation
- Recurrent disc herniation after prior open surgery
What causes it.
- Minimally invasive surgery treats the same conditions as open surgery
- Herniated disc — microdiscectomy through a 1-2 cm incision
- Spinal stenosis — tubular laminectomy without removing stabilizing structures
- Spondylolisthesis — percutaneous pedicle screws and interbody cage
- Degenerative disc disease — lateral or posterior minimally invasive fusion
- Vertebral fractures — percutaneous kyphoplasty through small needle
- Not every condition is a candidate — complexity determines approach
When to call us.
If you have been told you need spine surgery, it is always worth asking whether a minimally invasive approach is appropriate for your specific condition. Not every spine problem can be addressed minimally invasively — complex deformity, revision surgery, and multilevel disease often require open approaches — but for many common spine conditions, minimally invasive techniques offer equivalent outcomes with significantly better recovery.
Dr. Enguidanos will give you an honest assessment of whether minimally invasive surgery is appropriate for your condition or whether an open approach will provide a better result. He does not apply minimally invasive techniques where open surgery would be more effective.