Is Minimally Invasive Back Surgery Safe?

Blog Summary: Wondering how safe minimally invasive back surgery really is? Here's what patients need to know before making a decision:

• Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) offers faster recovery, smaller incisions, and lower risk than open surgery in many cases.

• Most procedures are outpatient and associated with fewer complications, especially with an experienced surgeon.

• Success rates have historically been high and have only improved thanks to technological advancements.

• MISS (see above) isn’t right for every patient. Proper diagnosis and surgeon selection are key to outcomes.

• A detailed consultation with a spine specialist like Dr. Baig helps determine the safest and most effective treatment path.

Is minimally invasive spine surgery safe? And if so, exactly how safe?

The truth is that while no surgery is without risk, minimally invasive surgery of the back and neck (more formally referred to as minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery and minimally invasive cervical spine surgery, respectively) is transforming how spine conditions are being treated.

Comparatively speaking, minimally invasive interventions also carry less risk than open surgery.

But is minimally invasive surgery safe for everyone? And how do you know if you’re a good candidate for this type of surgery?

Let’s dive deeper into the details so you can get answers to all your questions! We’ll break down the safety, efficacy, and risks of minimally invasive spine surgery, discuss when it might be the right choice, and touch upon its historic success rates and improvements over time.

What Makes Minimally Invasive Lower Back Surgery a Safer Choice?

Minimally invasive back surgery, and for that matter, other types of minimally invasive spine surgery, are advanced procedures. They are usually associated with lower complication rates, reduced postoperative pain, and minimal hospital stays compared to traditional types of spine surgery such as open surgery.

In fact, in most cases, minimally invasive surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning that patients can be operated on and return home the same day as their procedure!

But like all procedures, there are no guarantees, and safety depends on a variety of factors ranging from the patient’s specific condition and overall health to the surgeon’s expertise.

Therefore it’s important to undergo a comprehensive evaluation in order to understand your individual risk factors. It’s also just as essential to vet and choose your surgeon carefully.

Benefits & Safety of Minimally Invasive Back Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) uses specialized instruments and imaging to treat spinal problems with much less disruption to the surrounding muscle and tissue. Procedures involve very tiny incisions. When you compare it to traditional spine surgery as a whole, the potential benefits are very clear:

• Less blood loss

• Shorter operative times

• Reduced risk of infection

• Minimal scarring

• Faster return to daily life

The types of minimally invasive surgery available to patients run the gamut, and each can be used to treat an equally varied amount of specific conditions.

That said, one long-term study published by the NIH found that patients undergoing the MILD (minimally invasive lumbar decompression) procedure for spinal stenosis, in particular, experienced a significant improvement in pain, disability, and physical function.

Moreover the study also showed minimal adverse events and no evidence of spinal instability two years after surgery.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

The best candidates for MISS generally:

• Have conditions such as spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, or herniated discs.

• Have not responded well to conservative treatments like injections or PT.

• Are fairly healthy overall without complex spinal anatomy.

Patients with certain severe health conditions or extensive spinal deformities, however, might be better suited for traditional surgery.

For more information, read our guide to minimally invasive vs. traditional spine surgery.

Understanding the Limitations and Risks, & Success Rates of MISS

Neck or back surgery that’s minimally invasive is still surgery, and all surgery carries risk. That said, the most common complications associated with minimally invasive surgery include:

Potential complications can also vary depending on where the surgery is performed:

• Cervical (neck) MISS may carry a risk of a hematoma or temporary nerve root irritation.

• Thoracic (mid-back) MISS has a small risk of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks or dural tears.

• Lumbar (lower back) MISS may occasionally result in dural tears, nerve irritation, or the recurrence of a herniated disc.

While these complications can happen, though rare, they are not serious concern.

A 2024 review published in Neurospine highlights how advancements in real-time imaging, surgical navigation, and ultra-minimally invasive techniques have significantly lowered complication rates and improved patient outcomes. These developments have helped solidify MISS as a safe and effective alternative to open surgery in most cases.

Even more encouraging: as far back as the 1980s and 1990s, early studies of percutaneous and endoscopic techniques, the precursors to today’s minimally invasive procedures, were already reporting success rates of up to 87% in selected patients. With modern technologies, outcomes have likely improved even further.

Still, for some patients, especially those with severe deformities or complex anatomy, traditional open surgery may remain the better approach.

Why Do Some Back Surgeries Fail?

A persistent question surrounding back pain, minimally invasive surgery, and the reoccurrence of symptoms and/or the failure of surgery that we get at Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center is “Why do some back surgeries fail?”

Often, it comes down to improper diagnosis, unrealistic expectations, or choosing the wrong procedure for the particular condition involved.

That’s why we emphasize patient education and surgical planning so much here at Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center. Every patient of ours gets a 45-minute consultation with Dr. Baig to understand the risks and talk through an individualized treatment plan.

How do I know if Minimally Invasive Surgery is for me?

We can help you find out!

If you're experiencing back and leg, or neck and arm pain, and are considering minimally invasive spine surgery, Dr. Baig and our team offer advanced treatments and personalized evaluations to address your specific needs.

Get in touch now with questions or head to our minimally invasive spine surgery info page to learn more.