Dr. Bidiwala believes in using the most cutting-edge and proven technologies to help his patients, and he expertly applies his engineering background to deliver a customized treatment to each patient. He uses a conservative approach and applies conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs, rest, or exercise as a first step. If these are insufficient to relieve the patient’s condition, and an “open” treatment is required, several techniques of minimally invasive spine surgery are possible. If you familiarize yourself with the basics of these treatments, you’ll be better equipped to choose a treatment option that is the best for your condition.
A few conditions that can be treated using minimally invasive spine surgery include cervical disk herniation, compression fractures, lumbar disc herniation, lumbar stenosis, and spinal instability. The treatment starts with a small incision on the outside of the body. The neurosurgeon then uses precision tools to treat the inner condition.
For a herniated disc, the herniated portion of the disc beneath the nerve root can be removed. This relieves pressure and allows the body’s self-healing capabilities to take over. Although it can take a few weeks to fully heal, patients often experience immediate pain relief.
For compression fractures along the vertebrae, several minimally invasive spine surgery techniques have been developed. Vertebroplasty involves the injection of bone cement directly into the fractured vertebrae. Kyphoplasty involves the injection of a balloon-like object called a bone tamp to relieve the fracture. Both treatments allow for immediate pain relief and commence a healing process in the body.
Stenosis, a common cause of lower back and leg pain, occurs when the spinal canal surrounding the spinal cord narrows. It is a major cause of morbidity in the elderly, and it also can be treated using minimally invasive spine surgery. One technique involves insertion of spacing devices between the vertebrae. These spread the vertebrae apart and create space for the nerves. Another treatment involves microscopic decompression, which removes small pieces of bone to relieve pressure on the nerves.
All of these minimally invasive spine surgery techniques use precision tools to minimize damage to surrounding muscle tissue. They generally result in immediate pain relief and a more rapid healing process, and many have proven successful and more beneficial than older surgical treatments.