Generally speaking treatments for spine disorders fit into one of three categories—non-surgical, standard surgical and minimally-invasive surgery.

Non-Surgical Treatments for Back Pain and Neck Pain

  • Acupuncture
  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Braces
  • Discography
  • Epidural Steroid Injection
  • Epiduroscopy
  • Facet Medial Branch Block
  • Facet Joint Injection
  • Implantable Pain Medication Pump
  • Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy
  • Neurolytic Block
  • Nucleoplasty
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Peripheral Nerve Block
  • Physical Therapy
  • Radio Frequency Rhizotomies
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulators
  • Sacro-Iliac Joint Injection
  • Spinal Cord / Dorsal Column Stimulators
  • Sympathetic Block
  • Trigger Point Injection
  • Yoga

Standard Surgical Treatments for Back Pain and Neck Pain

  • Cervical Laminectomy
  • Posterior Cervical Laminectomy with Fusion and Instumentation
  • Posterior Occipital Cervical Fusion
  • Posterior Transarticular Screws and Fusion C1-2
  • Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty
  • Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy
  • Odontoidectomy
  • Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
  • Anterior Cervical Discectomy
  • Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion and Plating (ACDF)
  • Anterior Cervical Corpectomy Fusion and Plating (ACCDF)
  • Posterior Thoracic Laminectomy
  • Posterior Thoracic Laminectomy and Fusion
  • Posterior Thoracic Laminectomy Fusion and Instrumentation
  • Posterior Thoracic Instrumentation and Fusion for Spinal Deformity
  • Extracavitary Approach to the Thoracic Spine
  • Costotransversectomy of the Thoracic Spine
  • Anterior Thoracotomy for Thoracic Discectomy
  • Anterior Thoracotomy Discectomy Vertebrectomy and Reconstruction
  • Posterior Laminectomy Posterior Laminectomy Discectomy Foraminotomy
  • Posterior Lumbar Foraminotomy
  • Posterior Lumbar Fusion
  • Posterior Lumbar Instrumentation and Fusion
  • Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  • Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Instrumentation
  • Anterior Lumbar Retroperitoneal Approach for Lumbar Fusion
  • Anterior Transparitoneal Approach to the Lumbar Spine for Fusion

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) for Back Pain and Neck Pain

Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery for Back Pain and Neck Pain: Spine surgeons — Noam Stadlan, M.D. and Dean Karahalios M.D.

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is more and more becoming the method of choice over traditional surgery. Minimally invasive procedures typically result in less pain, scarring and a quicker recovery time for patients, as well as a reduction in health care costs. The Institute for Spine Care offers the widest range of minimally invasive spine procedures available anywhere.

What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is the latest trend in surgery, but what exactly is it? Also known as minimal access spine surgery or endoscopic surgery, MIS refers to a growing number of surgical procedures that achieve the same surgical results as traditional operations on the spine, but are performed with much smaller incisions and little or no cutting of muscle. This is done with the help of specially designed instruments called tubular retractors, and the aid of endoscopes (small cameras) which are inserted through small keyhole sized surgical incisions, and allow the surgeon to see deep inside the spine without removing all the muscle that covers it. These procedures can now be done on the neck, mid back, and low back for a wide variety of common problems.

This type of surgery, in comparison to standard surgery, offers many benefits to patients. Data clearly shows that patients have:

  • Less Blood Loss
  • Less Pain
  • Shorter Hospital Stay
  • Quicker Recovery
  • Reduced Need for Blood Transfusion
  • Minimal Scarring

It has been noted that these factors can also result in fewer post-operative infections, fewer complications, and better long-term results.

Minimally invasive spine surgery does, however require specific and extensive training to become accomplished in its use. Spine surgeons such as Noam Stadlan, M.D. and Dean Karahalios, M.D. have been performing these techniques for over 15 years, and have the most clinical experiences with MIS procedures in the country, having established themselves as leaders in the development of many of the techniques used today.