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June 19, 2012
Latest News
Thanks to recent technological advancements in minimally
invasive surgical techniques, spinal surgeons like Stephen R. Goll, M.D., of Orlando
Orthopaedic Center are now able to perform delicate procedures with minimal
scarring, pin-point accuracy and less pain for patients, all of which results
in faster recoveries and optimal results for spine patients. "
 When we say minimally invasive spine surgery, what we mean
is that these are new methods by which we can accomplish, in some ways, the
same types of operations that we have been doing for many years,” says Dr. Goll.
“However, now we are able to do those very same operations through much smaller
incisions and with much less muscle disruption for the patient.”
Traditionally, spinal surgeries have been done using “open”
surgical techniques, resulting in large incisions running the length of the
back, cutting of important spine supporting muscles, loss of blood, and overall
disruption of other integral muscles. The result of such trauma to the body is
often painful and lengthy recoveries that can take a toll on patients for
months.
In comparison to open surgical practices, minimally invasive
spinal surgery often results in a decrease of all negative consequences,
resulting in scars only an inch or so in length with minimal blood loss, and a
faster recovery with severe reduction of pain for patients.
“One of the additional advantages of minimally invasive
surgical techniques is not only what happens during the surgery, but what
happens after the surgery,” says Dr. Goll. “Because the surgery is performed
through smaller incisions and with less disruption of the muscles and ligaments
that surround and support the spine, there is less pain after those procedures.
Because there is less pain, you as a patient are able to get up and get going
much more quickly than you might have been in the past with more traditional
techniques. All in all, your overall recovery time is going to be cut down
significantly if your surgery can be done through a minimally invasive
technique.”
With the tools-of-the-trade getting smaller and more
accurate each year, a larger number of spinal conditions are now able to be
treated using minimally invasive techniques, including painful herniated discs,
spinal instabilities, spinal deformities, spinal infections, tumors and
fractures of the spine. In addition to treatable conditions, eligibility for
candidates of minimally invasive spinal surgery has increased to include sick
and elderly patients too frail to undergo traditional open surgery, and active
patients interested in a timely return to work or physical activities like
sports.
But even with the growth in technology, treatable
conditions, and patient eligibility, Dr. Goll says that minimally invasive
surgery is not for everyone. “It's important for patients to realize however,
that although there is a tremendous amount of our surgical procedures now that
we can do through minimally invasive technologies, not every surgery can and
not every surgery should be done through a minimally invasive approach,” says
Dr. Goll.
As for the future of the surgical technique, research on the
ongoing benefits of minimally invasive surgery continues and Dr. Goll sees great
opportunity ahead for the field of spinal surgery and treatment. “Over the
years we're all going to see more and more procedures done in a minimally
invasive fashion,” says Dr. Goll. “We're going to see a lot of procedures that are
done today in a hospital setting, involving several days stay in a hospital,
perhaps done in an outpatient setting where the surgery can be done and the
patients can go home the same day.”
Article by Victor Ocasio
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Videos
Originally Published in FloridaMD, June 2012
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