Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Information Center

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Explained

• Basic Introduction to Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
  Learn all about the recently popularized approaches to spine surgery known as thoracoscopic,laparoscopic,endoscopic and minimally invasive procedures.
• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: The Benefits
• An Introduction to Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Spine Centers: An Attractive Option for Patients
• Laparoscopic Spinal Fusion
• Robotics and Computers in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
• Minimally Invasive and Open Surgery Procedures
• Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Spinal Surgery

Cervical Spine Procedures

• Cervical Radiculopathy Treated Surgically on an Outpatient Basis
  Cervical radiculopathies can now be treated surgically on an outpatient basis. The authors explain their preference treating cervical radiculopathy by the posterior approach rather than by an anterior discectomy and fusion.
• Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy: A Surgical Technique to Reduce Pain

Scoliosis Surgically Treated Less Invasively

• Advances in the Surgical Management of Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis
  Thoracoscopic anterior release and fusion is an advanced surgical technique for correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). In this procedure, the thoracic spine is accessed through small incisions on the side of the chest.
• Thoracoscopy in the Treatment of Scoliosis
• Advancement in Surgical Treatment of Scoliosis
• Idiopathic Scoliosis: Anterior Thoracoscopic Correction
• Scoliosis: Questions/Answers
• Minimally Invasive Surgery for Scoliosis
• New Video Surgical Spine Procedure Means Less Risk; Much Shorter Recovery for Patients

Lumbar Spine Procedures

• Minimally Invasive TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion)
  PLIF and TLIF are two different types of fusion surgeries that may be effective in the treatment of spinal instability including spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, or spinal nerve compression.
• DISC Nucleoplasty Percutaneous Discectomy
• Microsurgical Treatment of Herniated Discs
• Lumbar Discectomy: Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
• Minimally Invasive Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF): A Beneficial Union
• Laparoscopic Lumbar Spinal Techniques
• Spinal Fusion and Bone Morphogenetic Protein
• Transforaminal Selective Endoscopic Discectomy™: Extremely Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment for Low Back and Leg Pain

Vertebral Fractures

• Spine Specialists On-Call: Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures -- Restoring Spinal Stability and Quality of Life
  Kyphoplasty is a newer technique having evolved from vertebroplasty used to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in the spine.
• Kyphoplasty: Reaching New Heights for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures
• Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty: Treatments for Spinal Compression Fractures
• Medical Management of Osteoporosis and Vertebral Compression Fracture
• Vertebroplasty: Effective Treatment for Painful Vertebral Compressive Fractures
• Vertebroplasty: A Case Study

Spinal Tumor

• Endoscopic Spine Surgery and Metastatic Thoracic Neoplasms
  The Cleveland Clinic reports their success treating metastatic spinal lesions (tumors) using endoscopes combined with a posterolateral surgical approach.

Current and Future Spine Technology

• Spine Specialists On-Call: Biologic Materials -- Dawn of a New Era in Spine Surgery
  Jeffrey C. Wang, M.D., discusses biologic materials and the impact they will have on the future of spine surgery.
• New Technology Advances Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
• Image-Guided Surgery: Space Age Technology Enters the Operating Room
• Advancements in Spine Surgery
• Image-Guided Spinal Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Bone Grafting
• Minimally Invasive Bone Grafts: Requirements, Methods, and Use

Selected Video Presentations

• Bone Graft Options for Spine Fusion Surgery
  Doctor Gerard Girasole provides surgical fusion patients with information about the difference between autograft and allograft.
• Lumbar Microendoscopic Discectomy Surgery
• Laparoscopic Bone Dowel System
• Lumbar Laminotomy and Microdiscectomy Video
• Percutaneous Nucleoplasty Surgery Video for Patients
• Video Index - Complete list of on-site video