Emerging Techniques in Spinal Surgery

Back pain is very common amongst individuals. In fact, according to the American Chiropractic Association, 31 million Americans experience back pain at any given time.

Your spine is composed of 26 bones, multiple ligaments, muscles and discs that could be compromised when you've injured your back. More than likely you will need to go see a doctor in order to find the best treatment option for you.

Have you heard of minimally invasive surgery?

Even though back pain is widely common, that doesn't mean the answer is always surgery. However, if you're someone who has a ruptured disc, surgery is your best option.

For instance, for a discectomy (the surgical removal of a herniated disc), the incision would be a one-inch incision that allows surgeons to go in-between your muscles and take out a minimal amount of bone to remove the ruptured disc.

Minimally invasive spinal surgery is when surgeons make a smaller incision but still big enough to get the job done. This prevents the complications of making large incisions with more exposure to unnecessary areas of your body.

Is there a faster recovery with minimally invasive surgery?

The recovery time is different for each person. Typically, recovery will be six weeks but can change depending on how healthy you are.

Certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and surgeon at Beaumont Health System, Jeffrey Fischgrund, MD, discusses if you're someone who would qualify for spinal surgery, how to prevent back pain and the techniques emerging with invasive spinal surgery.