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Traditional spine surgeries take hours, come with lengthy recovery times, and even have extraneous risks that a MISS surgery can bypass.
Back and spine surgery is a daunting treatment that can seem risky. However, if you have tried all other alternatives, your doctor will recommend that you have it. Spine health affects every aspect of your life, and if there is a chance you can recover fully through surgery, you should absolutely take that chance. When it comes to the type of surgery you choose to have, however, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, or MISS, is the lesser of two evils and could be the best way for you to get over your back pain for good.
What is MISS?
The trend of people getting minimally invasive spine surgery is increasing in places like New Jersey. Minimally invasive spine surgery in New Jersey is more effective than in other states because of its popularity and the quality of surgeons. When you get open spine surgery to correct a spine problem, the back must open so that the surgeon can expose the spine and work on it. When you choose a MISS surgery, the back stays closed, and the surgeon works through a small incision using keyhole tools. This allows them to reach the problem and fix it without excessive scarring or recovery times.
Although scientists theorized about MISS treatments in the 1930s, it wasn’t until recently that the technology to perform truly non-invasive procedures developed. Keyhole surgery has been possible since the 1980s, with the idea hitting mainstream medicine in the last two decades.
What Conditions does MISS Treat?
MISS is useful for treating a number of back and spine problems. Some of these conditions include:
- Degeneration of the discs in the lumbar spine
- Hernias
- Scoliosis
- Spinal deformities
- Spinal Stenosis
- Infections of the spine
- Instabilities within the spine
- Tumors within the spine
- Vertebral fractures
In all these conditions, MISS might make a viable alternative to open spine surgery for your case.
What is Open Spine Surgery?
Open spine surgery can treat an entire range of back and spine problems, including those listed above. Open spine surgery means going under the surgeon’s knife in a medical procedure that requires you to be unconscious. The surgeon makes an incision in the back, close to your spine. The surgeon must then open the incision to reach the area which requires treatment. They then perform the operation and stitch the wound closed when they finish.
Traditional open spine surgery takes a few months to get over. There is a risk of infection, and you receive a scar. However, open spine surgery must be the surgery used in certain conditions.
Reasons to Consider MISS over Traditional Open Spine Surgery
Why should you choose MISS instead of traditional spinal surgeries? Here are the best reasons to choose MISS.
Less Scarring
MISS requires only a small incision, which causes much less scarring than the larger one left by open spine surgery.
Faster Recovery Time
Since there is less scarring, you have less of a recovery time. The wound heals faster because the surgeon did not make a larger wound. The treatment area is, therefore, smaller. You can expect to recover within 4-6 weeks.
Less Risk of Infection
Again, a smaller wound means a smaller area. A smaller area means less chance of a surface infection as your wound heals. You also face less blood loss, which helps speed your recovery.
Faster Surgery
Your surgery time is faster. In the open spine, you can be on the table for hours. With MISS, the time shortens to 2-3 hours or less.
Reduces Dependency on Pain Meds
Among other benefits, MISS carries less dependence on pain medication.
Final Thoughts
A spine injury is a very serious condition that should be treated right away. Spine injuries can be caused by many factors. A slip-and-fall, a T-bone car accident, a disease, etc., could be anything. What’s important is how you treat it. You should immediately contact your doctor if you suffer a spine injury. Ask your doctor what type of treatment you should go for and treat it soon.
