Minimally-invasive surgery employs a variety of techniques that enable surgeries with less damage to the body than traditional open surgery. When properly performed, minimally-invasive surgery provides for smaller incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stays, swift recoveries, fewer complications, and positive long-term outcomes. The goal of minimally-invasive surgery is to isolate and fix the specific source of pain or discomfort without interfering with other parts of the body.

The ultimate goal of the minimally-invasive spine surgeries we perform is to maintain, and [whenever possible] improve function and mobility. If left untreated, pressure on spinal nerves can lead to permanent nerve injuries, resulting in pain, weakness, or even paralysis in extreme cases. Minimally-invasive surgical solutions for these types of conditions (which include Spondylolisthesis, cervical radiculopathy, sciatica, and lumbar spinal stenosis among many others) provide for the safe, precise removal of pressure from pinched nerves, avoiding permanent nerve damage.

Groundbreaking surgical techniques utilizing ultrasonic cutting tools are changing the very definition of ‘minimally invasive spine surgery’, evolving spinal surgery in ways that were at one point, virtually impossible.

Today’s innovative tools use high-frequency vibration transmitted through a water-cooled cutting tip. The vibrating tip feels a lot like that of an electronic toothbrush. However, upon coming into contact with hard bone, it will literally melt the bone, similar to a hot knife through butter. As a result, bone spurs that may be damaging a patient’s nerves are “melted away” with little risk of affecting surrounding nerves. Thanks to precise, millimeter accuracy and the safety of the vibrating “knife”, a trained, professional surgeon is better able to eliminate painful spine problems more effectively than they ever have before through microscopic incisions.

Our surgical procedures specifically target these microscopic structures in the spine. This means we can target bones without affecting any neighboring tissue or nerves, dramatically improving recovery time while also allowing the patient’s spine to maintain its structural integrity.

With ultrasonic spine surgery, the incisions are smaller, patients experience less pain and blood loss, spinal fusions are fewer or entirely unnecessary, mobility is preserved, and the patient enjoys a significantly faster recovery.

The benefits of minimally-invasive Ultrasonic spine surgery are many. Cantor Spine Center patients experience a number of ‘wins’ from these exacting, forward-thinking procedures – among the highlights:

• Preservation of function and mobility
• Unparalleled risk management
• The smallest possible incision
• Less surgical pain
• Major (over 90%) reduction in surgical implants (rods, screws, fusions)
• Less blood loss, and a near complete elimination of blood transfusions
• Swift, smooth recovery
• Shorter hospital stays
• Fewer complications
• Better long-term results