Is lumbar spine surgery open or minimally invasive? Which one to choose?

Introduction

 When the lumbar intervertebral disc herniates and the back pain becomes unbearable, surgery becomes an important means of resolving the pain. But which kind of surgery is best? Minimally invasive surgery causes very little trauma, but are all patients suitable for minimally invasive surgery? The following popular science will help you understand common lumbar spine surgeries.

1. Simple decompression: simple, efficient and basic technique

 Decompression surgery is the most basic and critical technique for lumbar disc herniation. Whether the use of decompression surgery is reasonable and whether the decompression range is appropriate directly affects the efficacy of the surgery. Decompression surgery mainly includes the following two methods:

1. Interlaminar window decompression

 It is a surgical method with less trauma and simple operation. Only a small amount of decompression can be done to reach the spinal canal, achieving the purpose of nerve decompression without destroying the original articular processes. It has little impact on the stability of the vertebral body and allows for quick recovery after surgery.

2. Laminectomy and decompression

 It is a more extensive decompression surgery, including laminectomy and possible partial resection of bilateral facet joints, to obtain better vision and operating space, and is suitable for more complex lumbar spine problems.

 In general, simple decompression surgery can complete the nerve decompression tasks for most lumbar degenerative diseases. However, for complex or multi-segment lumbar problems, simple decompression may have limited effect, and because part of the lamina is removed, it The impact on lumbar spine stability still needs attention.

2. Lumbar spinal fusion: the bridge between stability and reconstruction

 Lumbar fusion, as the name suggests, fuses two or more adjacent lumbar vertebrae together to form a stable whole. There are many methods of lumbar fusion, such as posterior fusion, anterior fusion, transforaminal fusion, etc. Among them, posterior fusion is one of the most commonly used surgical methods.

 Lumbar fusion, as the most commonly used surgical method in clinical practice, has its irreplaceable advantages:

 1. Adequate decompression: With the support of internal fixation devices, more complex lumbar spine problems can be more fully exposed and decompressed, effectively relieving nerve compression.

 2. Significant stability: Through fusion and fixation of the vertebral body, it provides long-term stability to the lumbar spine and reduces the risk of recurrence.

 3. Wide range of applications: Suitable for a variety of problems ranging from lumbar degeneration, lumbar disc herniation to lumbar spondylolisthesis.

 4. Mature technology: After years of practice and improvement, the surgical effect and safety have been widely recognized.

 Although lumbar spinal fusion can effectively treat a variety of lumbar spine diseases, it also has some disadvantages and potential complications. Such as relatively large surgical incisions, long recovery time, possible degeneration of adjacent segments, etc.

3. Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery: small incisions, big results

 With the continuous advancement of medical technology, endoscopic nucleectomy has gradually become a new option for the treatment of lumbar spine diseases. Only an incision of a few millimeters is made in the patient's skin, and then the operating tube is accurately positioned to the lesion. The microscopic imaging system in the tube is used to clearly magnify the internal structure of the spine on the screen, thereby effectively and accurately relieving compression.

The advantages of minimally invasive spinal endoscopic technology are very significant, including:

 1. Tiny incision: The incision is usually only a few millimeters, less than the size of a fingernail.

 2. Small amount of bleeding: The amount of bleeding during surgery is usually only a few milliliters, about the amount of a beverage bottle cap.

 3. Short operation time: The operation time is usually less than one hour, or even shorter, which reduces the patient’s surgical pain.

 4. Local anesthesia: The surgical trauma is small, and local anesthesia is generally sufficient. General anesthesia is not required, which reduces the risks caused by anesthesia.

 5. Rapid recovery: Patients can usually go about their activities within 24-48 hours after surgery, which greatly shortens the recovery period.

 Although endoscopic minimally invasive surgery brings many benefits, it still has shortcomings such as limited application range and small decompression range. It is difficult to effectively and completely treat severe or complex lumbar spine diseases.

4. Conclusion

 There are various types of lumbar spine surgeries, and each surgery has its own indications and characteristics. Which surgery to choose needs to be decided based on the patient's specific illness, physical condition, and the doctor's advice. No matter which surgery is chosen, postoperative recovery and prevention are very important. We hope that the introduction in this article can help you better understand the selection and application of lumbar spine surgery and protect your health.