REVIEWS   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2007 June;58(3):251-69

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Minimally invasive posterior approaches in spinal surgery

Wild M. H. ¹, Wenda K. ²

¹ Heinrich Heine University Klinik für Unfall- und Handchirurgie Moorenstraße 5, D-40225 Düsseldorf 2 Director of Bone, Joint and Spine Center HSK Wiesbaden, D- 65199 Wiesbaden

While the optimal therapy and method of surgical access for degenerative diseases of the spine and for vertebral body fractures are currently the subject of controversial discussion in the literature, minimally invasive procedures have been, and will continue to be developed, both for anterior and posterior approaches, in order to minimize access trauma. Above all, this is achieved using endoscopic imaging techniques, specialized instruments and also computer-assisted navigation. Although minimally invasive approaches minimize postoperative pain and blood loss during the operation, leading to a shortening of the hospital stay and to a faster return to a normal lifestyle, scientific studies have been unable to show superior long-term results for minimally invasive approaches over conventional standard procedures. This review aims to present currently employed minimally invasive methods for the posterior approach and to evaluate their therapeutic effectiveness.