Background: Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has emerged as a revolutionary approach to treating various spinal pathologies while reducing patient morbidity and improving recovery times.
Objective: This prospective study evaluates the clinical outcomes, complications, and patient satisfaction following minimally invasive spine surgery techniques compared to traditional open procedures.
Methods: A total of 145 patients undergoing spine surgery between January 2022 and December 2023 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups: MISS group (n=75) and open surgery group (n=70). Primary outcomes included operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, and functional outcomes using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months post-operatively.
Results: The MISS group demonstrated significantly reduced operative time (127±34 minutes vs 189±52 minutes, p<0.001), decreased blood loss (85±25 ml vs 245±78 ml, p<0.001), and shorter hospital stays (2.1±0.8 days vs 4.3±1.2 days, p<0.001). Functional outcomes showed superior improvement in the MISS group with ODI scores improving from 64±12 to 18±8 at 12 months compared to 66±14 to 26±11 in the open surgery group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques offer superior short-term outcomes with reduced morbidity, faster recovery, and improved patient satisfaction while maintaining equivalent long-term functional results.