If you have sustained a back injury or are experiencing chronic back pain and months of conservative treatments have not been effective, you and your doctor may feel that surgery is the next step to getting you back to feeling your best and doing the things you love. Spine surgeons are increasingly using minimally invasive techniques for several reasons including smaller incisions, faster healing, and shorter hospital stays, to name a few. Here are five important reasons to choose a minimally invasive procedure whenever possible.
Less Bleeding
Minimally invasive surgeries are performed with fewer and smaller incisions than traditional open procedures. All operations carry a measure of risk, and one of the threats is excessive bleeding. However, with minimally invasive techniques, this risk is significantly reduced. Open surgery is not even an option for some patients – such as those with certain conditions or who are taking certain medications – for this reason.
Lower Risk of Infection
When you choose minimally invasive spine surgery, you’ll have a much lower risk of infection than you would have with open surgery. Open procedures use large surgical fields to allow the spine surgeon to see and access the necessary areas. However, this increases the risk of infection. Minimally invasive back surgery lowers the risk significantly because the incisions are tiny – often not even requiring stitches.
Improved Accuracy
The best spine surgeons perform minimally invasive techniques whenever possible because of how much more accurate these procedures are. Minimally invasive surgeries are assisted by special video equipment that gives the surgeon a clear, magnified view of the surgical area and all of the structures and organs involved, making it easier for them to perform the surgery as accurately as possible.
Less Scarring
Just as minimally invasive surgeries reduce the risk of bleeding, they also reduce the risk of scarring. Especially when scars end up in areas not covered by clothing, they can affect the patient’s self-esteem over time. Open surgeries can result in large scars that won’t fade significantly or disappear. With minimally invasive procedures, the incisions are much smaller and so are the scars. Many patients find that their wounds aren’t noticeable at all after a while.
Faster Recovery Times
As if all the above benefits weren’t enough, minimally invasive surgery also comes with much shorter recovery times. You’ll be up and moving around much faster than you would after open surgery. Smaller incisions and shorter surgery times mean less downtime and quicker healing. You’ll also spend less time in the hospital, which can save you a significant amount of money.
No one is thrilled at the prospect of having surgery. However, if you do need a surgical procedure, find out whether there is a minimally invasive version. That way, you can rest and recover more easily and quickly with fewer worries about complications. If you’ve been searching for the best “spine surgeon near me,” turn to Landa Spine & Orthopedic Center. When you need spine surgery, an experienced and compassionate orthopedic spine surgeon at Landa Spine & Orthopedic Center can help. Contact us today and to book a consultation.