MIS-TLIF – Spine Surgery

(Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion)

What is MIS-TLIF?

Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS-TLIF) is a new, cutting edge surgical procedure that has shown great promise in the treatment of degenerative disc disease. TLIF is a well-established technique that has been used for many years to successfully treat this condition. However, the traditional open approach to TLIF is quite invasive, requiring a large incision and resulting in a significant amount of postoperative pain and disability. MIS-TLIF represents a major advance in the treatment of degenerative disc disease, as it is a minimally invasive approach that results in far less postoperative pain and disability.

In MIS-TLIF, the surgeon accesses the spine through a small incision in the side of the patient’s body. Specialized instruments are then used to reach the affected disc through this small opening. The goal of MIS-TLIF is to stabilize the spine and relieve pain by fusing together the vertebrae.

What happens during surgery?

At the best hospitals in India for MIS-TLIF, this surgery is performed through a small incision in the patient’s back. The surgeon will then insert a small tube into the incision. A camera is attached to the tube and is used to guide the surgeon during the procedure.

MIS-TLIF surgery involves fusion of the vertebrae. The surgeon will remove a portion of the disc between the vertebrae and then place a bone graft in its place. The bone graft will help to fuse the vertebrae together. In some cases, metal rods and screws may be used to stabilize the spine.

Note: The rods and screws need not be removed. They are not located by the metal detector at the airport. Click here if you want to know more about

Post Op Recovery

The patient may typically need to stay in the hospital for three to four days. The major restrictions include:

• no lifting of any heavy weight (not more than 10 lbs. for the first 6 weeks is advisable, not
  more than 20 lbs. for the next 6 weeks, and not more than 40 lbs. for the next 3 months)
• patient should do any activity that involves repetitive bending or twisting at the waist

Normally, most of the patients return to daily routine or office work in 4 to 6 weeks time, to medium effort involving work in 3 to 6 months, and to heavy effort activities in 9 to 12 months.
If required, physiotherapy is initiated between 6th and 12th week.

As we know by now that the main motive of this surgery is to improve back or/and leg pain, the chances of successful recovery depends on several factors, including the nature of problem diagnosed on MRI, duration of current symptoms, and the extent to which nerve is damaged. Patients who are suitable candidates for a MITLIF surgery , experience remarkable improvement in their back and/or leg pain after recovering from surgery.

Follow up Care

The patient is usually seen one week after discharge from hospital, and then at a time interval of 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. The treating doctor asks for X-rays to be done frequently to assess development of fusion.

Complications

As with any other surgical intervention, there are significant risks associated with Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. The complications are similar to that of open spinal fusion surgeries, though some studies have shown a reduced rate of infection for MISS.

So it is advisable to discuss the following points with your treating doctor before going ahead with surgery:

Persistent symptoms. There may be chances of experiencing a recurrence of the original symptoms

Bleeding. Some amount of bleeding can be expected, though this may not be typically significant.

Infection. There are chances of infection too. So, your treating doctor would prescribe certain antibiotics to be regularly given before, during, and quite often after surgery to reduce the risk of infections.

Blood clots. Another unusual complication may be the formation of blood clots.

Pain at bone graft site. Few patients also experience constant pain at the graft site.

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Surgery over Traditional Method

MISS (Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery ) also sometimes known as Less Invasive Spine Surgery. uses specialized instruments to access the spine with the help of small incisions.

Whereas, in a traditional open surgical method, the surgeon makes an incision of around 5 to 6 inches long and shifts the muscles to the side so that he can see the spine. Since the muscles get pulled to the side, this helps the surgeon in accessing the spine and thus remove the damaged/diseased bone or intervertebral disc.

One of the main disadvantages of open surgery is that the retraction or pulling of the muscle can lead to damage of the soft tissue. And thus, there are higher chances for muscle injury, and patients may also have pain after surgery . This pain is different from the back pain that he/she used to feel before surgery. This may result in a lengthier recovery period!

MISS was primarily developed for treating spine problems with lesser injury to the muscles and also other normal structures in the spine. It also assists the surgeon in seeing the exact area of the spine where the problem exists.

Other advantages of Minimally Invasive surgery includes: lesser bleeding, shorter hospital stay and smaller incisions and thus smaller scars.

Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgeries in India

With a growing number of people suffering from back pain, minimally invasive spinal surgeries in India are on the rise. MIS-TLIF is a common type of procedure used to treat herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and other spine conditions.

The best hospitals in India for MIS-TLIF are located in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai. These hospitals offer world-class facilities and experienced surgeons who can provide excellent care.These procedures are performed by experienced surgeons using the latest technology and equipment. Patients can expect to receive high-quality care at these hospitals.

The surgery is performed through small incisions in the back, which helps to minimize tissue damage and scarring. This type of surgery typically results in less pain and a quicker recovery than traditional open spine surgery.

Patients who undergo MIS-TLIF can expect to return home within a few days. Most patients report significant improvements in their symptoms within a few weeks after surgery. Contact us to know the cost of MIS-TLIF in India.