Current Advancements in Spine Surgery
The medical device industry brings new advances to the field of spine surgery every month, positioning them as the next great thing. Modern spine surgery makes use of cutting-edge technology to help surgeons perform the procedure in a way that minimizes tissue damage, speeds up recovery, and ensures patient safety.
Minimally invasive procedures and disc replacement are significant advancements in spine surgery during the past ten years that fit my requirements. Both are widely used and have a history of helping patients who are a good fit.
It makes sense that patients have many questions regarding spine surgery, and it is good to inform people about the objectives and advantages of various surgical choices. Let’s examine the innovations that are employed in practice more closely.
Minimal Invasive Surgery (MIS)
Surgical operations that can be carried out through small incisions with minimal injury to surrounding tissues are referred to as minimally invasive surgeries.
Minimally invasive procedures have the following advantages: reduced discomfort, quicker recovery, and less blood loss. Generally, the traditional surgical method entails a larger incision, increased blood loss, discomfort, and an extended hospital stay. Because not every patient or condition is a suitable fit for MIS, thorough screening is crucial.
Disc Replacement
One option for the more common spinal fusion procedure is disc replacement surgery. Rather than joining the vertebrae and preventing the painful disc from moving, we replace the damaged disc with an artificial one, akin to a hip or knee replacement.
By preventing deterioration in the areas above and below the surgery, disc replacement preserves spinal motion, which may help patients in the long run, according to a study. Research is presently in progress to ascertain whether disc replacement, in contrast to spinal fusion, can effectively postpone the degenerative process.
Not every patient is a good candidate for disc replacement surgery, nor can it replace every spinal fusion.
People with back discomfort must consult with a reputable orthopedic doctor to ascertain which kind of spine surgery is best for them.
O-arm Navigation in Spinal Surgery
During surgery, the O-arm navigation system uses computed tomography (CT)-based images to scan the spine in three dimensions. To assist the surgeon during surgery, this technology generates 2D and 3D images of the spine, allowing the surgeon to view the structure from any angle in real time. This will improve safety and accuracy, particularly for minimally invasive spine surgery. It will also assist with complex spine surgeries that demand extreme precision, such as pedicle screw insertion and disc spacer insertion for lumbar interbody fusion.
Intra-operrative Neuromonitoring
It is a tool used during surgery to assess how well the spinal cord and nerves are functioning. Interpreting the results calls for the expertise of specialists. In high-risk procedures or surgeries to treat spinal deformities like scoliosis, it is frequently utilized.
Final Words
Patients should remember that just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s better than tried-and-true methods. Before I use any new technology on my patients, it must be well-researched and have a track record of effectiveness.
