Minimally Invasive Procedures

Minimally invasive spine surgery has revolutionized the treatment of many spinal conditions. These procedures treat issues, such as herniated discs and nerve compression, with less injury to the muscles and other structures in the spine.

Minimally invasive procedures allow our surgeon to access the spine through smaller incisions. He then uses specialized tools to achieve the same goals as open spine surgery. The minimally invasive approach means you receive effective relief with less pain and a quick recovery.

At CalSpine MD, our spine specialist, Dr. Ball, specializes in minimally invasive treatments for a wide range of spine conditions. With over 20 years of surgical experience, Dr. Ball delivers precise, targeted care using advanced techniques and cutting-edge technology.

His skills and expertise ensure minimal disruption to healthy tissue while maximizing surgical outcomes.

For many years, open spine surgery was the standard approach for treating back and neck conditions. This traditional method typically involves making a large incision and cutting or detaching muscles and other soft tissue to reach the affected area of the spine.

While it can be effective, open surgery often results in more tissue damage, increased pain after surgery, longer hospital stays, and extended recovery times.

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is a modern, less disruptive alternative to open surgery.

Instead of cutting through large areas of muscle, MISS uses advanced imaging and specialized instruments to access the spine through small incisions. The goal is to treat the spine with less damage to surrounding tissue while still achieving the same surgical outcomes.

MISS typically involves:

• Making small incisions to access the affected area of the spine
• Using precision instruments to create a narrow, targeted pathway to the problem area
• Relying on enhanced visualization and tools to perform procedures such as:
  • Removing a herniated disc 
  • Widening the space around the spinal cord or nerves
  • Stabilizing the spine by joining bones using small screws, rods, or cages

Minimally invasive spine procedures offer several advantages over traditional open procedures by reducing the physical impact on the body. 

• Smaller Incisions: MISS uses tiny incisions, often less than an inch, which means smaller scars, a lower risk of infection, and faster wound healing.
• Less Damage to Muscles & Tissue: Instead of cutting through muscles, our surgeon gently moves them aside to create a small pathway to the spine. This helps preserve healthy tissue, resulting in less post-operative pain and stiffness.
• Reduced Pain After Surgery: With less damage to muscles and other soft tissue, patients often experience less pain during recovery. Many patients find they need fewer pain medications after minimally invasive procedures.
• Shorter Hospital Stays: Many minimally invasive procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis or with only a brief hospital stay, getting you home and healing faster.
• Faster Recovery Time: Smaller incisions and reduced tissue damage mean you can return to your daily activities faster than you would after traditional open spine surgery.
• Lower Risk of Complications: Minimally invasive techniques lower the chance of infection, excessive blood loss, and other complications that are more common with conventional surgeries.
• Improved Surgical Precision: Advanced tools and imaging allow for precise, targeted treatment, leading to more reliable results and fewer follow-up surgeries.

Some of the most common spine conditions treated with minimally invasive spine surgery include:

• Herniated or Bulging Discs
• Spinal Stenosis
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Spondylolisthesis
• Compression Fractures

Before considering any type of surgical intervention for the spine, Dr. Ball performs a thorough evaluation to pinpoint the exact cause of your symptoms. A clear and accurate diagnosis is essential, not only to confirm whether surgery is the right choice, but also to plan the safest and most effective treatment possible.

The diagnostic process usually includes: 

• A detailed consultation, where Dr. Ball reviews your medical history, discusses your symptoms, and understands how they impact your daily life. 
• A physical exam to evaluate posture, flexibility, strength, and reflexes. Dr. Ball also checks for signs of nerve compression or spinal instability, such as numbness, weakness, or limited mobility.
• Advanced imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis and map out your treatment. Dr. Ball may order one or more imaging tests:
  • MRI scan to assess soft tissues, spinal discs, and nerve compression
  • CT scan to get detailed views of bones and joints in the spine
  • X-rays to evaluate the alignment of your spine, disc spacing, and any abnormal movement between vertebrae

Once the diagnosis is done and the root of the problem is identified, he creates a tailored surgical plan. His goal is always to use the least invasive, most effective approach possible. Surgical planning typically includes:

• Choosing the safest and most effective approach to reach the spine (from the front, side, or back)
• Determining how many vertebrae are affected and if spinal fusion is needed
• Selecting appropriate hardware (screws, rods, cages) and graft materials
• Using advanced imaging and surgical navigation tools to guide the procedure

At CalSpine MD, Dr. Ball performs a range of advanced minimally invasive spine procedures to treat specific spinal conditions. 

Here are some of the specialized procedures he performs. 

• Minimally invasive lumbar fusion stabilizes the lower spine by joining two or more vertebrae using small implants inserted through tiny incisions.
• Minimally invasive discectomy removes a portion of a herniated disc that’s pressing on a nerve, often helping relieve leg or back pain.
• Minimally invasive laminectomy removes a small section of bone to create space in the spinal canal, relieving pressure from spinal stenosis.
• Cervical endoscopic foraminotomy uses a small camera and precision instruments to widen the openings where nerves exit the spine in the neck, helping ease nerve compression.
• Microsurgical cervical laminoplasty reshapes parts of the cervical vertebrae to make more room for the spinal cord, often used for spinal cord compression.
• Endoscopic spine surgery uses a thin tube with a camera to access and treat spinal problems through a very small incision, guided by real-time images.
• Endoscopic lumbar laminectomy or discectomy treats nerve compression in the lower back by removing bone or disc material using endoscopic tools through tiny incisions.
• iFuse 3D uses small titanium implants to stabilize the sacroiliac (SI) joint through a minimally invasive, bone-sparing approach.

Dr. Ball also offers high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) therapy as a completely non-invasive solution for spine pain and instability.

This advanced treatment uses focused electromagnetic energy to create strong, deep muscle contractions in your core, far more intense than regular exercise. These contractions help retrain and strengthen weakened muscles, improve circulation, and support healing from both acute and chronic causes of back pain.

HIFEM therapy can be a powerful option when used on its own or alongside physical therapy, especially for patients looking to avoid surgery.

Minimally invasive spine surgery is a safe and effective procedure. However, like any other surgery, it carries some level of risk. Dr. Ball will walk you through all possible risks and benefits ahead of time, so you feel informed and confident about your decision.

Potential risks and complications of minimally invasive procedures may include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Spinal fluid leak or dural tear (small tear in the thin membrane around the spinal cord)
• Nerve injury, which may cause temporary or, in rare cases, lasting symptoms
• Incomplete relief of symptoms 
• Recurrence of nerve compression over time

It is important to remember that serious complications are rare, especially when the procedure is performed by an experienced spine surgeon like Dr. Ball. 

His focus on minimally invasive methods, use of precision-guided tools, and thorough preoperative planning all help lower the risk of complications and support a safer recovery process.

Living with spine-related pain or limited movement can be exhausting, physically and emotionally. These symptoms can interfere with your daily life, work, sleep, and the activities you enjoy.

Minimally invasive spine surgery offers relief and restores function with less pain and downtime. At CalSpine MD, Dr. Ball brings over two decades of surgical expertise to treat spine problems with the least invasive, most effective approach.

For appointments, please call us at (925) 838-8830 or request an appointment online.