Minimally invasive spine surgery may be recommended for an individual who does not find sufficient relief from back pain following a targeted regimen of conservative treatment. Non-surgical options like physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications should generally be attempted over the course of several weeks or months before surgical intervention is considered. The orthopaedic specialists at Tidewater Orthopaedics offer a full range of both non-surgical and surgical treatments, including advanced, minimally invasive surgeries designed to address back pain and other debilitating symptoms. We see patients from Hampton, Williamsburg, and Newport News, and the surrounding Virginia areas.
A more effective alternative to traditional open spine surgery, minimally invasive spine procedures offer certain surgical candidates many potential benefits, mainly because the associated techniques are performed with small, specialized instruments that are inserted through a series of tiny incisions. Conversely, when performing traditional open spine surgery, a surgeon must create a long incision and move muscles aside in order to view and access the spinal components. While important to the success of the procedure, this muscle retraction can result in soft tissue damage, leading to pain after surgery and a lengthy recovery period.
On the other hand, the advantages of minimally invasive spine surgery over traditional open spine surgery include:
With that said, it is important to note that minimally invasive surgery is not suitable for every patient. Furthermore, Dr. Jonathan Mason, the fellowship-trained spine surgeon (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) at Tidewater Orthopaedics, believes in treating degenerative spine conditions as conservatively as possible. Therefore, surgical intervention is rarely the first treatment considered for patients who are diagnosed with herniated discs, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, and other degenerative spine conditions. Instead, Dr. Mason will usually begin by recommending a non-surgical regimen, such as a customized physical therapy program designed and overseen by the outstanding team of in-house physical therapists at Tidewater Orthopaedics.
To learn more back pain treatments, including minimally invasive spine surgery, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mason, call Tidewater Orthopaedics at (757) 276-3743.