Just another iHealthSpot WP02 site

SEARCH

Bill Pay

  • Physician Referral
  • Brecksville: (440) 746-1730
  • Twinsburg: (330) 963-2920
  • Request an Appointment
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
  • Our Team
    • BRECKSVILLE LOCATION
    • Bradley Dasher, MA, PT, ATC, CSCS
    • Tina Harris, PT
    • Melissa Haverdill, MPT
    • Christina Goodfellow, DPT
    • Brittany Minniear, PT, DPT, AT, ATC, OCS
    • TWINSBURG LOCATION
    • Michael Janesch, PT, ATC
    • Edward Baldwin, PT ~ In Memorium
    • Lisa Martin, PT, GDMT
    • Katelynn Fornes, PT, DPT
    • Javier Pacheco, PT
    • Cara Chait, DPT, LMT
    • Holly Kitzmiller, PT
    • Susan E. Atchison, MT
    • Administrative Staff
    • Patricia Strecker, Business Development
    • Terri Moldvay, Office Manager
    • Jill Puffenbarger, Office Coordinator
    • Jacki Lerner, Office Coordinator
    • Janet Lapierre, Front Office Team
    • Paula Smoleny, Front Office Team
    • Elaine O’Connell, PTA, Outreach
    • Amanda Moldvay, Front Office Team
  • Services
    • Athletic Injuries
    • Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training
    • Return to Sport
    • Athletic Performance
    • Back and Neck Pain
    • Headaches
    • Work-Related Injuries
    • Women’s Health
    • Alter-G™- Anti Gravity Treadmill
    • Massage Therapy
    • Vestibular Therapy
    • Balance & Fall Prevention
    • Post-Operative Rehabilitation
  • For Patients
  • Video Gallery
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Patient Education Article

Minimally Invasive Lateral Access Spine Surgery

  • Introduction
  • Anatomy
  • Causes
  • Symptoms
  • Treatment

Introduction

In the past, spinal fusion surgery meant large incisions, muscle detachment and lengthy recoveries.  Innovations in spine surgery instruments and surgical techniques provide a much more pleasant experience for patients requiring spine surgery.  Minimally invasive lateral access spine surgery (lateral transpsoas approach) uses small incisions, a muscle sparing approach, and requires only a one or two day hospital stay.  In fact, people that have minimally invasive lateral access spine surgery can walk within a few hours of their surgery.
Back to top

Anatomy

The spine is composed of a series of bones called vertebrae.  There are different areas of the spine, defined by their curvature and function.  The seven small vertebrae in the neck make up the cervical spine.  The chest area contains the thoracic spine, with 12 vertebrae.  The lumbar spine is located at and below your waist.  The lumbar spine contains five large vertebrae.  The remainder of the lower vertebrae in the spine are fused or shaped differently in formation with the hip and pelvis bones.

The back part of each vertebra arches to form the lamina.  The lamina creates a roof-like cover over the back opening in each vertebra.  The opening in the center of each vertebra forms the spinal canal.  The spinal cord, nerves, and arteries travel through the protective spinal canal.  The spinal cord and nerves send messages between your body and brain.

Intervertebral discs are located between the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae.  Strong connective tissue forms the discs.  Their tough outer layer is the annulus fibrosus.  Their gel-like center is the nucleus pulposus.  A healthy disc contains about 80% water.
 
The discs and two small spinal facet joints connect one vertebra to the next.  The discs and joints allow movement and provide stability.  The discs also act as a shock-absorbing cushion to protect the vertebrae.

 

Back to top

Causes

Minimally invasive lateral access spine surgery can be an alternative to traditional spinal fusion for select people with degenerative disc disease, recurrent disc herniation, spinal instability, spondylolisthesis, failed fusion, osteomyelitis (bone infection), discitis (disc infection), tumors, scoliosis, and post-laminectomy syndrome.  Surgical candidates have experienced significant back pain with or without leg pain, and have not had pain relief with medications, steroid injections, or physical therapy.

 

Back to top

Symptoms

People with low back pain or back pain that spreads to the legs may be candidates for minimally invasive lateral technique for spinal fusion.
Back to top

Treatment

Minimally invasive lateral technique spinal fusion surgery is an inpatient hospital procedure that typically requires a one or two day hospital stay.  The surgical approach is from the side of the person, rather than from the more traditional front or back approaches.  The surgeon uses real-time nerve localizing and monitoring technology, as well as X-ray guidance during the procedure. 

First, the surgeon makes a small incision on the side flank.  Dilators that provide electromyographic (EMG) data navigate the surgeon towards the spine.  Retractors gently spread the muscles to access the spine.

Once the appropriate area of the spine is reached, the required surgery can be performed. Finally, the retractors are removed, and the incisions are closed.

Recovery
 
Because only a small incision is required and muscles are spared, recovery from minimally invasive lateral technique spine surgery is much faster and less painful than with traditional spinal surgery methods.  Patients are able to walk within hours of spine surgery, and only a short hospital stay is needed. 
Back to top

Copyright ©  - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com

This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.

The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on April 13th, 2016. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.

Footer

Our Reviews

We are pleased to receive great reviews from our patients. We invite you to read their experiences and share your own!

Read Reviews

Leave Reviews

SUBURBAN PHYSICAL THERAPY BLOG

We invite you to explore our blog for the latest news and resources designed to help you stay informed about new and interesting events in physical therapy and wellness.

READ NOW

We Educate Our Patients About how to Heal, Strengthen, Prevent Strain, and Reduce the Risk of Injury


VIDEO LIBRARY
Click here to learn more about Suburban Physical Therapy and the treatments and services we offer.

LEARN MORE

PATIENT EDUCATION
Our comprehensive Patient Education Library contains helpful articles about many of the conditions we treat.

LEARN MORE

Testimonials

“I can’t even say how thankful I am for Suburban Physical Therapy…”

Hear from our patients

  • About Us
  • Physical Therapy Team
  • Services
  • For Patients
  • Video Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact & Locations
  • Sitemap
  • HIPAA Privacy Policy

Copyright 2021 Suburban Physical Therapy
6950 South Edgerton Road Brecksville, OH 44141
2132 Case Parkway North, Ste. A Twinsburg, OH 44087

Our Social Media and Reviews
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

At Suburban Physical Therapy in Brecksville and Twinsburg, OH, our highly skilled physical therapists provide treatment for a wide range of common injuries and conditions including Athletic & Sports Injuries, Return to Sport, Athletic Performance, Back and neck pain, Headaches and migraine headaches, Work-related injuries, Women’s Health, Alter-G™ Anti-Gravity Treadmill, Massage Therapy, Vestibular Therapy, Balance and fall prevention, Post-Operative Rehabilitation, and Nutritional Counseling.