Spinal surgery is always serious business, but advances in the field over the last few decades have been truly extraordinary for both patients and surgeons. Specifically, minimally invasive surgery — where surgeons need only make one or two very small incisions and use specialized instruments for improved access and impressive precision — has been a game-changer.
If you’re considering minimally invasive surgery for spinal stenosis, disc degeneration-related problems, or revision spine surgery, it’s best to be fully informed.
Highly experienced spinal surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Cohen, specializes in minimally invasive surgery. He believes that patient education and understanding are just as critical as the procedure itself. During your consultation, he explains everything in detail, but in the meantime, here’s a look at some of the most frequently asked questions.
Compared to traditional open surgery, which requires access to the treatment via a single long incision that cuts through tissue and muscle, minimally invasive procedures reduce the trauma to your body.
When Dr. Cohen performs minimally invasive surgery, he simply makes small incisions and uses customized surgical tools placed in thin tubes that fit through them. For some procedures, he also employs a specialized operating microscope or endoscope, which enables him to better view your spinal tissues through magnification and additional light.
If Dr. Cohen recommends minimally invasive surgery to relieve pain and improve or restore your mobility, you should fully understand his reasoning and approach.
Consider asking these questions to feel confident on surgery day.
Whether Dr. Cohen is addressing a herniated disc or other problems caused by degenerative disc disease, a concerning spinal tumor, scoliosis, or something else, you should go into your surgery understanding how your minimally invasive procedure will solve the problem.
For example, if he performs minimally invasive spinal fusion to address degenerative disc disease, a slipped disc, spinal stenosis, or a different problem, he can apply a bone graft (which encourages growth between bones) to the vertebrae he’s treating and use metal screws, plates, and rods to secure your bones as they fuse in the most streamlined way possible.
This is just one example, but Dr. Cohen is eager to speak with you at length about whatever minimally invasive procedure you’re scheduled for.
In a word, it’s easier than if you had traditional open surgery.
Because minimally invasive procedures require Dr. Cohen to do far less cutting than with a traditional procedure, much of the skin, muscle, and bone are left untouched. He separates the tissue more than he truly cuts it and moves your muscles out of the way so he can access the area he needs to work on.
You recover faster from minimally invasive spine surgery, and you experience less pain as well.
As you can guess, there’s significantly less scarring with minimally invasive techniques because the incisions are so small. Another bonus is that you’ll also experience less bleeding.
We know that the sooner you can return to the comfort and familiarity of your own home after surgery, the better.
Minimally invasive surgery wins out in this area as well. Believe it or not, you’ll be able to go back home either the same day as your surgery or within one or two days.
With traditional surgery, you can expect to be at the hospital for three to five days, minimum.
Fortunately, because minimally invasive surgery involves less disruption of your tissues, your chances of post-surgical infection are reduced. Other complications, like organ injury, are also rarer.
Dr. Cohen deeply values building a relationship based on trust and open communication with every one of his patients. Engaging in dialogue until you have all the answers you need will help you feel safe and confident about your surgery.
Contact our office to schedule an appointment to learn more about minimally invasive procedures and the services Dr. Cohen provides — by calling our Garden City office at 516-246-5008 or booking online.
