8 Incredible Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

The thought of undergoing spine surgery is scary. Its complex and traditional surgical methods are associated with long recovery times and high rates of complications. However, surgery may be the best solution if conservative treatment doesn’t alleviate your back pain or injury.

The good news is that you have options. You could be a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery, a treatment that offers a range of incredible benefits compared to traditional open surgery.

As a leading spine surgeon in Chattanooga, Tennessee, David A. Wiles, MD, has the experience you need. He’s performed more than 15,000 minimally invasive spine surgeries, and in this blog, we’re taking a closer look at some of the benefits of minimally invasive technology.

1. Smaller incisions

Traditional open surgery requires large incisions to access your spine and repair damage. Large incisions increase your risk of complications and scarring, but minimally invasive surgery doesn’t require large incisions.

Minimally invasive methods typically require incisions less than one inch in size. Dr. Wiles uses specialized surgical instruments to make repairs through these smaller incisions, which result in less scarring and faster healing.

2. Less scarring

Because minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions, the scars after surgery are small. In some cases, so small they’re nearly invisible — making minimally invasive surgery an appealing option for people concerned about their appearance post-surgery. Less scarring also lowers your risk of incisional pain and other subsequent scar tissue complications.

3. Less blood loss 

Smaller incisions also lower your risk of blood loss during surgery. Significant blood loss can occur during traditional open surgery that may require blood transfusions or other interventions. On the other hand, minimally invasive spine surgery reduces this risk, resulting in a safer procedure overall.

4. Shorter hospital stay

Minimally invasive procedures typically take less time and require less anesthesia than traditional open surgeries. You are still asleep throughout your surgery, but you wake up and begin recovering faster.

Because of this, most people only need to stay in the hospital one night after minimally invasive surgery, while some return home the same day. Once you’re home, you can focus on recovering in a more comfortable setting.

5. Lower risk of complications

Traditional open surgery carries a higher risk of infection due to larger incisions and longer hospital stays that could expose you to harmful bacteria. But with minimally invasive spine surgery, your risk of infection is significantly lower. Minimally invasive methods also have a low risk of other complications, including bleeding and nerve damage.

6. Less pain

Unfortunately, traditional open spine surgery is associated with significant pain and long recovery times. No surgery is 100% pain-free, but minimally invasive surgery is typically much less painful than traditional surgery. Most people experience less pain during recovery, meaning they’re less likely to rely on pain medication as they heal.

7. Faster recovery

Thanks to smaller incisions, less blood loss, and less pain, people who undergo minimally invasive spine surgery typically experience faster recoveries. You still need to participate in rehabilitation under Dr. Wiles’s guidance, but you may be able to return to your normal activities within a few weeks after surgery.

8. Enhanced accuracy

Finally, minimally invasive spine surgery is more accurate than traditional surgery. Dr. Wiles has completed thousands of successful procedures and has extensive experience working with specialized tools and imaging technology that make minimally invasive surgery much more precise than other methods.

Are you ready to find out if you’re a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery? It’s a flexible treatment option for people with spine problems like herniated discs, fractures, tumors, and more — and it could be right for you.

To learn more, contact our office in Chattanooga, which also serves the Bristol, Kingsport, and Johnson City, Tennessee communities.