the minimal approach may not be appropriate.
While the minimally invasive approach involves a smaller incision, the true beauty of the surgery is that there is less cutting of the muscles. In the minimal approach, there is less trauma to the muscles of the back. The muscles are separated, but not cut. This allows the patient to heal faster, with less pain. It also, generally, lets the patient get back to work or sports faster.
The minimally invasive approach (sometimes also called microscopic or endoscopic surgery) is useful for many spinal conditions including herniated discs, degenerative discs, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis. Despite the fact that this type of surgery involves a small incision, conservative or non-operative treatment is almost always tried first. “Surgery is for those patients that don’t get better with conservative treatment and can’t live with the pain,” according to Dr. Schneider.
If surgery becomes necessary, there are numerous different surgical procedures that can be done through this minimal incision approach. These procedures include laminectomies, laminotomies,