Sponsored by the John Muir Health Neurosciences Institute Dr. Merkow spoke about, “What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery? Does it Work?” on June 6, 2019. The talk was geared towards primary care physicians, pain management physicians, neurologists, and kinesiologists in attendance. Dr. Merkow explained how tubular retractor systems help relieve nerve pressure while preserving important spinal ligaments. He also discussed the role of artificial disc replacement in the cervical spine and minimally invasive hardware placement using intraoperative navigation. The lecture addressed the benefits of oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion and why Dr. Merkow prefers this approach versus lumbar fusion techniques.
Although more technically demanding, the less invasive spinal surgery approaches commonly lead to shorter recovery times and the preservation of normal spine motion/biomechanics.
