Minimally invasive spine surgery is a safer and more effective alternative to open spine surgery. Because it requires only a small incision, patients benefit from faster recovery times, less pain and a reduced risk of damage to healthy tissues.
Tampa General Hospital’s Neuroscience Institute is a well-established leader in spine care and minimally invasive spinal surgery. Our experts perform more minimally invasive procedures than any other hospital in the region and facilitate the most complex spinal operations in all of Florida. With the assistance of state-of-the-art spinal navigation systems and robotic technologies, our spine surgeons help patients find meaningful relief from neck and back pain and achieve their best quality of life.
Conditions Treated With Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Minimally invasive spine procedures can be used to treat a wide range of spine conditions, including:
- Degenerative spine and disc diseases
- Spinal arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Fractures in the vertebrae
- Spinal tumors
- Scoliosis
- Bone spurs
- Facet joint syndrome
- Sciatic nerve compression
Types of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeries
TGH excels in a wide range of minimally invasive spine surgeries, including:
- Discectomy – A part of a damaged spinal disc is removed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord.
- Laminectomy – Part of the vertebrae is trimmed or removed to widen the spinal canal and relieve pressure on the spinal cord caused by spinal narrowing.
- Spinal fusion – Two or more vertebrae are connected to stabilize the spine and reduce pain.
- Lateral spine surgery – The spine is accessed through the side of the body to address various disorders from an alternative angle.
- Kyphoplasty – A collapsed vertebra is lifted using a balloon-like device and medical-grade cement is injected to restore height and stability to the spine.
- Percutaneous vertebroplasty – A medical-grade cement is injected into a fractured vertebra to stabilize the bone and prevent it from fracturing further.
- Endoscopic spine surgery – We offer a cutting-edge form of minimally invasive surgery utilizing the endoscope, a slender tube equipped with a light and camera. This advanced tool enables our endoscopic spine surgeons to perform 'ultra minimally invasive' spine surgery, providing patients with precise and effective treatment options.
What Is Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Endoscopic spine surgery is an innovative form of minimally invasive spine surgery. Tampa General Hospital is pleased to offer this option to patients in the Tampa Bay region who are candidates for this type of spine surgery. Our experienced endoscopic neurosurgeons can use the procedure to treat numerous conditions involving the spine, including bone spurs, chronic pain, degenerative disc disease, facet joint syndrome, herniated discs, sciatica, nerve compression and spinal stenosis.
During the procedure, our surgeons make a small incision to access the affected area, such as a herniated disc. Using the endoscope, they achieve superior visualization of the nerves compared to traditional microscopes. Oftentimes, they can treat the condition without compromising the integrity of surrounding bone or joints, performing procedures like discectomies with precision.
Endoscopic spine surgery is often an excellent alternative to traditional open spine surgery and other minimally invasive spine surgery because it produces less pain and scarring and requires less recovery time. Notably, endoscopic spine surgery can be performed with intravenous (IV) sedation, which helps patients avoid the risks that may go along with general anesthesia.
What to Expect
Each type of spine surgery comes with its own individual risks, benefits and recovery guidelines. Generally speaking, many patients who undergo minimally invasive spinal surgery remain in the hospital for one to three days after the procedure, but select operations can be performed on an outpatient basis. For example, the vast majority of endoscopic spine surgeries are performed as an outpatient procedure.
While the most notable benefit of minimally invasive spine surgery is its streamlined recovery period and lower risk of complications, it’s still vitally important for patients to follow all post-operative guidelines from their care team to help ensure optimal results. One of our minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery experts can provide you with more detailed information about what to expect during recovery.
Become a TGH Patient
Tampa General Hospital is committed to using the most advanced surgical techniques and state-of-the-art technology to help patients find meaningful relief from pain. Our progressive approach to spine care is just one reason why TGH is recognized as a “high performing” hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-24.
Don’t live with debilitating neck or back pain when the experts at Tampa General Hospital can help. For more information about the minimally invasive spine surgery options available at TGH’s Neuroscience Institute and to schedule an appointment, call (800) 822-3627.