Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
(MIS) simply describes our innovative surgical techniques that minimize tissue trauma during a spinal surgery.
In a nutshell, minimally invasive spine surgery, or MISS, describes the innovative surgical techniques that minimize tissue trauma during a spinal surgery.
In the past, spine surgery has been done in an "open surgery" format, meaning that the area being operated on is opened with a long incision to allow the surgeon maximum workspace and visibility during the operation. However, this process can often lead many painful and unnecessary complications as well as longer recovery periods.
In traditional open spine surgery, the surgeon will make a 5-6 inch incision down the back and moves the muscles to the side in order to properly see and operate on the spine. However, this technique often uses more anatomy than the surgeon actually requires and can have some serious drawbacks. One of the biggest issues is that the pulling back, or retraction, of the muscles can damage the soft tissue and lead to longer recovery times for patients.
Fortunately, thanks to exciting advances in medical technology, open spine surgery is becoming a thing of the past and minimally invasive techniques are quickly rising to the forefront.
Minimally invasive spine surgery was designed to require a much smaller incision which, in turn, leads to less muscle damage, less bleeding, less time in the hospital and a shorter recovery period.
MISS procedures are often performed using a tool that is known in the industry as a tubular retractor. In this surgery a small incision is made over the problem area of the spine and the tubular retractor is inserted. The tool creates a small tunnel down to the spinal column and the surgeon is able to access the spine using small instruments that fit into the center of the tubular retractor. All bone and diseased tissue that needs to be removed from the spine exits through the tubular retractor and anything that needs to be inserted into the spine such as screws or rods comes through the retractor.
Even more recently, Robotic Spine Surgery has become the cutting-edge of minimally invasive spine surgery.
Our surgeons conduct minimally invasive surgical procedures with remarkable speed and accuracy, using advanced three-dimensional imaging techniques. This minimally-invasive technique resulting in improved patient outcomes, reducing the average length of hospital stay by 27 percent and the rate of complication by nearly 50 percent when compared to conventional procedures.
Minimally invasive spine surgery can address a number of spinal issues including Spinal Fusion and Decompression surgery.
Using minimally invasive techniques designed to minimize surgical impact and maximize recovery speed, we offer a range of surgeries to repair disc issues, including posterior (PLIF), Transforaminal (TLIF), Anterior (ALIF), and Interlaminar (ILIF) Lumbar Interbody Fusions. These options which offer a range of approaches to treating structural back issues surgically, depending on the the patient and the condition. We also offer an innovative technique know as XLIF, or Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion, which may allow for a faster, less painful recovery process by avoiding surgical impact on the major muscles of the back.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery benefits patients by reducing recovery times, as well as hospital stays. By minimizing localized trauma as a result of surgery, MISS promotes a more rapid healing process by giving each patient an easier path to recovery.
Dr. Lim has been named a 2018 Best Doctor by Northern Virginia Magazine.
Read more
An epidemic of addiction to opioids swept the nation, claiming thousands of lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2016. A local doctor is using a fairly new treatment to lower his patients risk of addiction.
Read more