When the words spine surgery is spoken, many people have thoughts of dread and thoughts of endless days riding the couch. However spine surgery has drastically changed over the past few years. Large open procedures are no longer necessary. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become preferable over traditional open surgeries. MIS provide minimal soft tissue disruption and focuses treatment at the specific pathology. Many people will argue that in open procedures the visibility is better and the surgery is performed with more accuracy. Yet recent studies show absolutely no difference in long–term effectiveness of open procedures versus minimally invasive. There is a difference though, in the recovery time. Patients who went through minimally invasive procedures have a speedier recovery and less post-operative pain which is preferable.
At Prairie Spine & Pain Institute, we thrive on staying at tip of the sword in terms of innovative spine surgery. The world of spine has changed and we have been one of the early practices to implement such techniques. On the downside to minimally invasive surgical techniques, there is significant learning curves and special training required for surgeons conducting these procedures. Open techniques are the traditional taught procedures and are already technically demanding and minimally invasive techniques are likely even more challenging.
In our practice we have been performing minimally invasive procedures for several years now with phenomenal results. When patients ask, where is the proof that this procedure is more advantageous? Our answer is in the patients we treat. Our patients leave Prairie Spine & Pain Institute with faster results and the same long term success compared to traditional open techniques. They leave with a very small incision and very little tissue (muscle) disruption. They advance faster in post-operative physical therapy and are able to return to their lives in a shorter period of time. Spine surgery has advanced, and we have advanced as well. We not only want to leave a footprint with our patient’s success, but also leave a mark on orthopedic spine surgery as a whole. Minimally invasive procedures are effective and should be considered when surgery is the preferred treatment. If you have questions or are in pain, come see us at Prairie Spine & Pain Institute.
About The Author: Derek N. Morrow, PA-C is a physician assistant with Prairie Spine and Pain Institute. Derek works in the clinic setting as a health care provider seeing patients. He is also utilized in the operating room as a first assist in surgery. In the clinic setting, his key function is to diagnose new patients and conduct their initial treatment. He works directly with patients to establish customized treatment programs and to monitor their progress. He also conducts history and physical evaluations for many patients. He performs many office procedures including trigger point injections, large joint injections, and bursa injections, all with the help of ultrasound guidance. He is radiologically trained, and uses his knowledge of X-ray, Ultrasound, MRI, CT, and EMG-Nerve Conduction Studies to establish a diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment. Derek is surgically trained and plays a vital role in the procedures we perform at Prairie Spine and Pain Institute.
