Minimal invasive surgery (MISS)

Minimally invasive spine surgery, or MISS, is a keyhole procedure that involves making small incisions into the skin in order to access the spine. MISS allows surgeons to diagnose and treat back and neck problems, and can sometimes be used to treat pain originating in the shoulders, arms and legs.

During a typical procedure, your doctor will make incisions (less than 2cm in length) into your skin. Small, specialised tools will be passed through these incisions, allowing your doctor to inspect and treat the issue. Your doctor will be guided by a small camera – either an endoscope or fluoroscope – during the procedure, with the images being displayed on a monitor screen.

Types of MISS

MISS is used to treat many conditions, including:

• Neck and back pain
• Spinal stenosis
• Lumbar and cervical herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease

Advantages of MISS

Advantages of MISS include quicker recovery, fewer complications, reduced scarring and less bleeding during the operation. Generally, patients are discharged from hospital within 2-3 days of the operation.

Recovery time will depend on your individual condition and type of procedure.

Complications

Like with any surgical procedure, there can be complications with MISS. These include infection, bleeding, pain, recurring symptoms, nerve damage and blood clots.

A consultation with a healthcare professional will determine whether MISS is the best option for you.

Acknowledgements

EIDO Healthcare Limited