If you have a condition that requires surgery on your spine, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery. The minimally invasive techniques used today offer lots of benefits during your procedure and your recovery that traditional open surgeries do not.
At The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care, Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, FAAOS, specializes in minimally invasive spine surgeries to treat a wide range of painful spine conditions. Dr. Bo is highly trained in the latest minimally invasive techniques to ensure a better outcome for your surgery and your recovery.
Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques cause less trauma to your body because Dr. Bo only needs to make small incisions to access damaged areas of your spine. In contrast, traditional surgery requires deeper incisions that cut through more soft tissue.
Through these incisions, Dr. Bo inserts specialized surgical tools, tiny video cameras, and a light. The camera sends real-time images of the surgical site to an external screen that he watches during your procedure. The close-up view helps him operate with a higher level of precision that may be possible during traditional open surgery.
When other treatments for chronic back pain or neck pain aren’t working, Dr. Bo may recommend minimally invasive surgery to address spine conditions like:
You may also be a candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery if you have spinal instability due to deformities or injuries.
There are many benefits that minimally invasive spine surgery offers to those who need to undergo a surgical procedure. Five of the biggest benefits include:
Because minimally invasive spine surgery allows Dr. Bo to operate with a higher level of precision, you may need less anesthesia than you might with traditional surgery. Less anesthesia can reduce your risk for respiratory complications during your procedure and your recovery.
The smaller incisions that minimally invasive surgery requires reduces your risk for surgical complications like excessive bleeding and infection.
You may also experience much less pain after minimally invasive spine surgery than you might following traditional open spine surgery.
After minimally invasive spine surgery, you may not have to stay in the hospital for multiple days so you can begin your recovery at home sooner.
Depending on the need for your surgery, Dr. Bo may also be able to complete the procedure on an outpatient basis. This means you can go home a few hours after your surgery to recover in a more comfortable, familiar environment.
In addition to getting out of the hospital sooner, you may also benefit from a faster recovery time after minimally invasive surgery.
Smaller incisions and less soft tissue damage ensure you heal faster and with less complications. Many people are able to start physical therapy and return to work and their other activities within a few weeks of minimally invasive surgery.
More invasive surgeries may require several months of healing before you can resume your normal routine.
Another benefit of the smaller incisions required in minimally invasive surgery is the reduced risk for scarring.
Dr. Bo uses advanced surgical techniques to make the smallest incisions possible, so your skin heals more efficiently without large, noticeable scars.
To find out if minimally invasive spine surgery is right for you, call The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care office nearest to you or book an appointment online today.
