Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is a type of surgery on the bones of your spine (backbone). This type of surgery uses smaller incisions than standard surgery. This often causes less harm to nearby muscles and other tissues. It can lead to less pain and faster recovery after surgery. Spine surgery can’t fix all types of back problems, though. Your healthcare provider will advise spine surgery only if you have a type of problem that surgery may help.
This includes conditions such as:
- Herniated disk
- Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
- Spinal deformities (like scoliosis)
- Spinal instability
- Spondylolisthesis (when a vertebra slips forward)
- Spondylolysis or pars defect (a defect in part of a lower vertebrae)
- Fractured vertebra
- Removal of a tumor in the spine
- Infection in the spine
