01 — Overview
Minimally invasive surgery is not a single operation. It is a way of reaching the same targets through tubular retractors that separate muscle rather than detach it, guided by imaging and, where appropriate, navigation. What is done to the nerve or the disc is the same; the exposure is smaller.
02 — Who it suits
- Decompression for stenosis at one or more levels
- Fusion where the segment needs stabilizing
- Patients for whom blood loss and a large exposure carry added risk
- Cases where preserving the posterior muscle attachments is a priority
03 — How it is done
A series of dilators opens a working corridor down to the bone. A tubular retractor holds it open. The decompression or fusion is performed through the tube using a microscope or endoscope, with imaging or navigation confirming position throughout.
04 — Recovery
Smaller incisions and less tissue disruption are generally associated with a quicker recovery than traditional open surgery. Length of stay and return to activity depend on the procedure performed and on the individual patient.
05 — Conditions treated
- Spinal Stenosis A narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord and nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness.
- Herniated Disc A condition where the inner gel-like core of a spinal disc bulges out through a tear in the outer layer, causing pain and neurological symptoms.
- Lumbar Disc Disease Degeneration or herniation of discs in the lower back, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs due to nerve compression.
- Spondylolisthesis & Spinal Instability A condition where a vertebra slips out of place onto the bone below it, causing pain and nerve compression.
- Spine Trauma Breaks or cracks in the vertebrae caused by trauma, osteoporosis, or other conditions, leading to pain and potential neurological damage.
Timelines and techniques described here are general. Your own plan depends on your anatomy, your imaging and your medical history, and is decided with you at consultation.
