Understanding Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures: What You Need to Know

Back and neck pain can interfere with work, mobility, and overall quality of life. Fortunately, advances in modern spine care allow many patients to find relief without traditional open surgery. Minimally invasive spine procedures use smaller incisions, less tissue disruption, and advanced imaging to reduce pain, promote faster recovery, and improve function.

Below is a clear overview of today’s most common minimally invasive spine procedures — including interventional pain treatments and surgical options now widely used across spine practices.

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1. Kyphoplasty and Other Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures for Pain Relief

Kyphoplasty restores vertebral height and stabilizes painful compression fractures.

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure designed to treat vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, trauma, or diseased bone.

How It Works

• A small incision is made.

• A balloon is inserted into the fractured vertebra and gently inflated.

• The space is filled with bone cement to restore stability.

Kyphoplasty procedure steps.

Benefits

• Rapid pain relief

• Restores vertebral height and alignment

• Minimally invasive with a quick recovery

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2. Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) Trial: Reducing Chronic Nerve Pain

Spinal Cord Stimulation is used for chronic nerve-related pain that hasn’t responded to conservative treatments.

How It Works

• Temporary leads are placed into the spinal canal in the epidural space..

• Mild electrical impulses interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain.

• If successful, a permanent device can be implanted later.

Spinal Cord Stimulation interrupts pain signals before they reach the brain.

Benefits

• Reduces or eliminates nerve pain

• Non-opioid treatment

• Adjustable, reversible, and safe

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3. Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs): Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Relief

ESIs deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly around irritated spinal nerves.

Epidural Steroid Injections reduce inflammation around irritated spinal nerve roots.

Ideal For

• Herniated discs

• Sciatica

• Spinal stenosis

• Neck or low back pain with radiating symptoms

Benefits

• Reduces inflammation

• Helps restore mobility

• Supports progress in physical therapy

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4. Facet Joint Injections & Medial Branch Blocks: Diagnosing and Treating Joint Pain

Facet joints can become inflamed due to arthritis or injury. These procedures help diagnose and relieve facet-related pain.

Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Blocks help diagnose and treat spine-related joint pain.

Facet Joint Injections

Medication is placed directly into the painful joint.

Medial Branch Blocks

Numbing medication is placed adjacent to the nerves supplying the facet joints to confirm the source of pain.

Benefits

• Quick pain relief

Helps determine whether a patient is a candidate for Radiofrequency Ablation

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5. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Long-Lasting Nerve Pain Relief

RFA uses controlled thermal energy to interrupt pain signals coming from the medial branch nerves by precisely ablating the nerves involved..

Ideal For

• Chronic low back pain

• Neck pain

• Trauma induced facet joint pain

• Disease induced facet joint pain (certain autoimmune arthropathies including some inherited genetic disorders

Radiofrequency Ablation provides long-lasting relief by interrupting pain-carrying nerves.

Benefits

• Relief lasting 6–12 months or longer

• Improved mobility

• Small incision, minimal recovery time

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6. Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD Procedure)

The MILD procedure removes small amounts of the yellow ligament (ligamentum Flavum sitting just above the epidural space and just below the spinous processes) and bone through a tiny incision to relieve pressure caused by some types of lumbar spinal stenosis.

How It Works

• A small port is inserted through the skin.

• Excess ligament (ligamentum flavum) and bone are removed.

• This effectively widens the spinal canal in a conservative fashion to relieve nerve root compression.

Benefits

• Improved standing and walking tolerance

• No implants

• Tissue-sparing and fast recovery

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7. Image Guided Endoscopic Discectomy: A Newer Approach to Herniated Disc Treatment

Endoscopic discectomy is a modern, minimally invasive technique used to remove herniated disc material using a small endoscope and specialized tools.

How It Works

• An x-ray camera called a fluoroscope is employed to accurately locate the spinal level of the involved disc. Imaging with MRI and or CT scan is performed prior to the procedure to aid in diagnosis.

• A very small incision is made.

• Through this incision, and under x-ray guidance,  a specialized need called a trochar is placed directly to the involved spinal level to allow visualization of the disc and nerve.

• A small amount of compressing disc material is then removed.

Benefits

• Less postoperative pain

• Minimal scarring and quick recovery time

• Faster return to normal activities

Increasingly offered in advanced interventional and surgical spine practices

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⭐ Important Note

Not all minimally invasive procedures listed here are offered at every interventional pain or spine practice. These treatments are included to provide patients with a complete and current overview of modern minimally invasive spine care options.

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Is a Minimally Invasive Procedure Right for You?

You may benefit from these treatments if you have:

• Persistent back or neck pain

• Radiating pain, numbness, or tingling

• Limited mobility

• Pain not improving with medication or physical therapy

A thorough evaluation and imaging study can help determine the most appropriate treatment for your condition.

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References

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. https://www.aaos.org/

2. Mayo Clinic. Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: What You Need to Know. https://www.mayoclinic.org/

3. Spine-health. Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures: Overview. https://www.spine-health.com/

4. Cleveland Clinic. Kyphoplasty for Vertebral Fractures. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/

5. American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP). Interventional Spine Procedures: Guidelines and Benefits. https://www.asipp.org/

6. Harvard Health Publishing. Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain Relief. https://www.health.harvard.edu/