1. What is keyhole surgery or minimally invasive spine surgery?
Keyhole surgery or minimally invasive spine surgery is an alternative procedure for traditional open wound surgery performed to treat various spinal disorders which include degenerative disc, scoliosis, herniated disc, and spinal stenosis etc. In this procedure, Spine surgeons use specialized instruments like tubular retractors or specialized retractors to access the damaged part of the spine through small incisions.
2. What Are The Spine conditions amenable for Keyhole surgery?
In general, the goal of Keyhole surgery or MIS surgery is to relieve pressure on spinal nerves and also at times to stabilize the bones of the vertebral column and spinal joints. The spine conditions that are amenable for Keyhole surgery include:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal instability including spondylolisthesis
- Lumbar Spinal stenosis
- Vertebral compression fractures
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal infections for abscess drainage
3. What Are The Advantages Of Keyhole Spine Surgery?
When you consider spine surgery, find out whether keyhole spine surgery is a good option for you. It offers several advantages compared to traditional open spine surgery. However, it’s important to note that not everyone is an ideal candidate for keyhole spine surgery.
Here are some advantages of keyhole spine surgery:
- Less scarring
- Reduced risk of infection
- Less blood loss
- Less tissue damage
- Minimal pain during and after surgery
- Less time to spend in hospital
- Faster recovery time
4. What are the disadvantages of keyhole surgery?
There will be certain disadvantages for any type of spine surgery. The primary disadvantage is its complex nature; often, keyhole surgery takes longer time to perform. Spine surgeons performing keyhole surgery are usually experienced and requires intense training. Otherwise, it can lead to complications. Cost is also a little higher compared to open surgery.
Some other possible complications and risks that may occur during or after minimally invasive spine surgery include:
- Wound problems
- Need for additional surgeries and revision surgeries
- Parasethesias or neurological issues
- Blood clots
5. What is the success rate of keyhole spine surgery?
Often, keyhole spine surgery is performed on an outpatient basis or single-day admissions( as a requirement for insurance situations). The patient might not have any restrictions over their activities immediately post the surgery except in a few situations. The success rate is about 90 to 95%, and most of the patients don’t require any further surgery. The critical component is the selection of the right patient.
6. Can a proposed keyhole surgery be converted to open surgery?
In most of cases, when a patient is suggested for keyhole surgery, the spine surgeon will be able to accomplish the procedure almost 90% the times. Sometimes, due to intraoperative contingencies, these surgeries may be converted into open surgery, and every patient who plans to undergo a minimally invasive spine surgery needs to be counseled regarding this.
7. How long Should I Stay in hospital after a Keyhole surgery?
In most of the cases, people who have undergone keyhole surgery are discharged on the same day after surgery. Usually, it will take 1 to 2 weeks to return to your daily activities based on your health condition. Whereas in the case of open surgery, the patient needs to stay 3 to 5 days in the hospital, and your recovery time also will be longer.
8. Will I Have Any Scar Post MIS Surgery?
Keyhole surgery is a type of procedure that allows a surgeon to access the damaged part of the spine without having any large incision in the skin. So post key it doesn’t leave any notable scar on your skin. However, patients can express a keyhole scar.
9. What are the long term clinical outcomes when keyhole surgeries are compared to open surgeries for the same condition?
As keyhole surgeries are minimally invasive procedure, it gives less perioperative pain and enables the patients to mobilize earlier. The long term studies have proven that outcomes are not majorly different from open procedures.
