Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

What is Minimally Invasive Spine (MIS) Surgery?

It is a surgical technique or approach that is designed to decrease the trauma to the muscles during surgery. It typically involves muscle splitting or sparing approaches, which decreases pain and post-operative scarring to the muscles. This typically leads to less pain after surgery and therefore less use of pain medications.

Recovery

MIS surgery often leads to a quicker recovery after surgery, which then gets you back to your typical daily routine faster. Our goal is you get you back to enjoying your life. MIS surgery typically has less blood loss, shorter length of stay in the hospital, and less risk of complications, particularly infections. Very often MIS surgical patients go home the next day from surgery, and sometimes it can even be done as outpatient/same day surgery. There is less disruption of the tissue around the nerves, and so scarring of the nerves occurs less frequently.

Is MIS best for you?

Many times patients are not good candidates for MIS surgery to appropriately address their pathology. The traditional methods of spine surgery have a long track record of success. MIS surgeons have completed additional training and adapt these special techniques when appropriate to handle your surgical care.

What is great about seeing a MIS surgeon, is that we can determine which approach is best for you to optimize your surgical outcome.

John I. Williams, MD

To request an appointment with Dr. Williams please fill out the information below and our scheduling department will reach out to you in 1 to 2 business days.

Micah W. Smith, MD

To request an appointment with Dr. Smith please fill out the information below and our scheduling department will reach out to you in 1 to 2 business days.

Patient Education Resources

For more information about minimally invasive spine surgery, please feel free to visit the following websites:

The Better Way Back

Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Online Bill Pay

Patient Portal