Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures
Minimally invasive spine procedures offer effective pain relief for patients with chronic back and neck issues – without the need for traditional open surgery. At Comprehensive Pain Consultants, we use advanced techniques to reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore quality of life with faster recovery times and fewer risks.
What Are Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures?
Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures involve the use of small incisions, image guidance, and specialized tools to access and treat the spine with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues. These techniques reduce trauma, speed up recovery, and lower the risk of complications. They are ideal for patients with spine-related pain who haven’t responded to conservative treatments like medications, physical therapy, or injections, but want to avoid major surgery.
The cutting-edge procedures are recommended when more conservative treatments do not provide lasting relief. They relieve pressure or inflammation causing your pain and may prevent or prolong the need for more invasive surgeries.
Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures are commonly used to treat conditions like:
- Spinal Stenosis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Herniated Discs
- Facet Joint Pain
- Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction
- Chronic Low Back Pain
- Post-Surgical Spine Pain (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome)
Our Treatment Offering
Intracept Procedure
The Intracept Procedure is a minimally invasive treatment designed to relieve chronic low back pain originating from the vertebral endplates, particularly in the thoracolumbar region (T10–L5). It targets the basivertebral nerve, which transmits pain signals from the vertebral bodies. During the procedure, a specialized device is inserted through a small incision in the back, and radiofrequency energy is applied to ablate (disable) the basivertebral nerve. This interrupts pain signaling, reducing chronic vertebrogenic back pain. The procedure is performed under imaging guidance, typically as an outpatient treatment, and aims to provide long-lasting pain relief without spinal fusion or extensive surgery.
During an Intracept procedure, you’ll lie on your stomach while the skin over the lower back is cleaned and numbed. Using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, the doctor inserts a small needle through a tiny incision into the vertebral body to access the basivertebral nerve. Radiofrequency energy is then applied to ablate the nerve. The procedure usually takes 60 – 90 minutes and is performed under sedation or general anesthesia, with minimal discomfort during the treatment.
Most patients can go home the same day and resume light activities within a few days. Full recovery and optimal pain relief typically develop over several weeks as the treated nerve heals and pain signals are reduced.
Intracept Procedure
Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat painful vertebral compression fractures, often caused by osteoporosis, trauma, or tumors. During the procedure, a small balloon is inserted into the collapsed vertebra and inflated to restore height and create space. The balloon is then removed, and medical-grade bone cement is injected to stabilize the vertebra. Kyphoplasty can relieve pain, restore spinal alignment, and improve mobility, often allowing patients to return to normal activities more quickly than with conservative treatments alone.
During a kyphoplasty, you’ll lie on your stomach while the back is cleaned and numbed. Using X-ray guidance, the doctor inserts a small needle into the fractured vertebra, inflates a balloon to restore vertebral height, then fills the space with bone cement to stabilize it. The procedure typically takes 45 – 60 minutes per vertebra and is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.
Most patients can go home the same day or the next day and gradually resume normal activities within a few days. Mild soreness at the incision site may last a week, and full improvement in pain and mobility is usually noticeable within days to weeks.
Kyphoplasty
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD)
The Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD) procedure is a minimally invasive treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis, a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves, often causing leg pain, numbness, or weakness. The MILD procedure removes small amounts of bone and ligament tissue that are compressing the nerves, using tiny incisions and specialized instruments, without the need for open surgery or implants. This approach can relieve nerve pressure, reduce pain, and improve mobility while minimizing tissue damage, blood loss, and recovery time compared with traditional spinal surgery.
During the MILD procedure, you’ll lie on your stomach while the lower back is cleaned and numbed. Using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, the doctor makes a tiny incision and inserts specialized instruments to remove small amounts of bone and ligament that are compressing the spinal nerves. The procedure typically takes 30 – 60 minutes, is often performed under local anesthesia with sedation, and involves minimal discomfort.
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD)
Minimally Invasive Spine Fixation (Minuteman)
Minimally Invasive Spine Fixation (Minuteman) is a surgical procedure designed to stabilize the spine and relieve pain caused by conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, or spinal instability. Unlike traditional open fusion surgery, this approach uses small incisions and specialized instruments to insert screws, rods, or cages to fuse the affected vertebrae. By minimizing tissue disruption, blood loss, and scarring, the procedure aims to stabilize the spine, reduce pain, and improve function while promoting faster recovery compared with conventional open spinal fusion surgery.
During a Minuteman procedure, you’ll lie on your stomach under general anesthesia. Using small incisions and fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, the surgeon inserts screws, rods, or cages to stabilize and fuse the affected vertebrae. The procedure typically takes several hours, depending on the number of levels treated, and involves minimal muscle disruption compared with traditional open surgery.
Light activities can often be resumed within a few weeks, while full recovery and solid spinal fusion may take several months. Physical therapy is usually recommended to restore strength and mobility.
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Fusion
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Fusion is a minimally invasive surgical procedure designed to relieve chronic pain caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction, where the joint connecting the lower spine to the pelvis becomes inflamed or unstable. During the procedure, small implants or screws are inserted across the SI joint to stabilize and fuse the joint, reducing abnormal motion that causes pain. Performed through small incisions with imaging guidance, SI joint fusion can alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance quality of life for patients who have not responded to conservative treatments like physical therapy, medications, or injections.
During an SI joint fusion, you’ll lie on your stomach under general or regional anesthesia. Using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance, the surgeon makes small incisions and inserts implants or screws across the sacroiliac joint to stabilize and fuse it. The procedure typically takes 1 – 2 hours and involves minimal tissue disruption compared with traditional open surgery.
Most patients can go home the same day or after an overnight stay. Light activities can usually be resumed within a few days, while full recovery, including solid joint fusion and optimal pain relief, may take several weeks to a few months. Physical therapy is often recommended to restore strength and mobility.
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Fusion
VIA Disc
The VIA Disc procedure is a minimally invasive treatment designed to relieve chronic back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. It involves injecting a proprietary tissue-based allograft into the affected disc to stimulate hydration, repair, and regeneration of the disc tissue.
Under imaging guidance, the provider inserts a needle into the disc and injects the VIA Disc material. The procedure is quick and typically performed in 30 minutes.
Patients usually return to light activity within a day or two. Pain relief and disc health improvement occur gradually over weeks to months.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure used to relieve chronic pain by targeting nerves that transmit pain signals. During the procedure, a physician uses heat generated by radio waves to interrupt these nerves’ ability to send pain signals to the brain. By “turning off” the targeted nerves, RFA can provide long-lasting pain relief and improve mobility and quality of life.
During a radiofrequency ablation procedure, you’ll lie on your stomach or back while the skin near the target nerve is cleaned and numbed. Using X-ray or fluoroscopic guidance, the physician carefully inserts a thin needle and applies heat generated by radio waves to interrupt the nerve’s ability to send pain signals. The procedure usually takes 30–60 minutes, and most patients go home the same day. Some may feel immediate relief from the numbing medication, while longer-lasting effects from the ablation develop over several days.
Recovery from radiofrequency ablation is typically quick. Most patients can return to light activities the same day but should avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours. Mild soreness at the injection site is common and usually resolves within a few days. Pain relief can begin within a few days and may last for several months.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures
Smaller incisions, less tissue damage than a conventional surgery
Lower risk of complications
Faster recovery and return to activity
Long-lasting pain relief
Avoidance of traditional open surgery
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Is a Minimally Invasive Spine Procedure Right for You?
Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures are recommended for patients who haven’t found relief with conservative methods. During your consultation at Comprehensive Pain Consultants, our board-certified specialists will evaluate your condition and recommend the most effective treatment option for your needs.
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Back pain affects millions of Americans every year. Whether it’s the result of an injury, aging, or a medical condition, back pain can seriously impact your quality of life. At Comprehensive Pain Consultants, our board-certified spine specialists conduct a thorough evaluation of your spine to find out what’s causing your symptoms. They investigate your pain’s origin, how severe it is, and whether your range of motion is limited. If needed, they may get X-rays or imaging tests that provide doctors with more detailed information to create your personalized treatment plan.
