• Choll W Kim.
• Spine Institute of San Diego, Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Alvarado Hospital, San Diego, CA, USA. chollkim@smiss.org
• Spine. 2010 Dec 15;35(26 Suppl):S281-6.

Study DesignLiterature review.ObjectiveTo describe the scientific basis of minimally invasive spine surgery as it relates to posterior lumbar surgery.Summary Of Background DataMinimally invasive spine (MIS) surgery is predicated on several basic principles: (1) avoid muscle crush injury by self-retaining retractors; (2) do not disrupt tendon attachment sites of key muscles, particularly the origin of the multifidus muscle at the spinous process; (3) use known anatomic neurovascular and muscle compartment planes; and (4) minimize collateral soft tissue injury by limiting the width of the surgical corridor.MethodsLiterature review.ResultsThe conventional midline posterior approach for lumbar decompression and fusion violates these key principles of MIS surgery. The tendon origin of the multifidus muscle is detached, the surgical corridor is exceedingly wide, and significant muscle crush injury occurs through the use of powerful self-retaining retractors. The combination of these events leads to well-described changes in muscle physiology and function. MIS surgery is performed using table-mounted tubular retractors that focus the surgical dissection to a narrow corridor directly over the surgical target site. The path of the surgical corridor is selected on the basis of anatomic planes, specifically avoiding injury to the musculotendinous complex and the neurovascular bundle.ConclusionWith these relatively simple modifications to surgical technique, significant improvements in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain, surgical morbidity, return of function, among others, have been achieved. However, MIS techniques remain technically demanding and a significant complication rate has been observed during the initial learning curve of the procedures.

17 keywords...

hide…