Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

P re f a c e

Zachary A. Smith, MD

Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD Editors

In this current issue, we seek to highlight the tremendous role of minimally invasive techniques in modern spine surgery. General considerations, including complication avoidance, radiation exposure, and anatomy, are considered in the initial articles. Furthermore, evidence-basis and technique are illustrated for commonly applied techniques, such as cervical foraminotomy, lumbar interbody fusion, and thoracic discectomy. Later articles are devoted to recent advances that have been applied to complex spinal pathologies. These include approaches for thoracolumbar corpectomy, intradural tumors, and complex spinal deformity. It is our hope that this issue provides both practicing neurosurgeons and trainees an in-depth resource on this topic. We are grateful to the editors for allowing us to oversee this work, and we would like to thank the many surgeons who devoted valuable time to contribute. Last, we are indebted to our patients, who have entrusted us with their confidence.

Neurosurg Clin N Am 25 (2014) xiii http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nec.2014.02.001 1042-3680/14/$ – see front matter Ó 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Zachary A. Smith, MD Department of Neurological Surgery Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine 676 N. St. Clair St., Suite 2210 Chicago, IL 60611, USA Richard G. Fessler, MD, PhD Department of Neurological Surgery Rush University Medical Center 1725 W. Harrison St., Suite 855 Chicago, IL 60612, USA E-mail addresses: [email protected] (Z.A. Smith) [email protected] (R.G. Fessler)

neurosurgery.theclinics.com

We are honored to edit this issue of the Neurosurgery Clinics of North America devoted to modern Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery. The guiding principle of these techniques is to treat effectively, and completely, a patient’s pathology while minimizing injury from the surgical approach. The role minimally invasive spine surgery has grown tremendously in the last decade. While initial applications were limited to more elemental applications, such as discectomy and decompressions, modern applications have shown the tremendous range and depth of these techniques. The goal of this issue is to highlight modern minimally invasive spine surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery has had an extraordinary impact on patient outcomes. Patients with common degenerative pathologies, such as lumbar disk herniations or degenerative stenosis, can now be treated and discharged the same day as treatment. Furthermore, these techniques can be offered to patients with commonly accepted surgical challenges, including obesity, advanced age, and medical comorbidities. This has broadened the scope and capabilities of modern spine surgery. Minimally invasive techniques have matured in the last decade and have been continuously refined in the hands of modern spine surgeons. With this maturation, there has been a simultaneous broadening of the scope and complexity of these techniques. Complex pathologies, such as spinal column and spine cord malignancies, spinal column trauma, and scoliosis, can now be effectively treated with minimally invasive techniques. This “second phase” of minimally invasive spine surgery has allowed us to limit approachrelated morbidity in even the most complex problems encountered in spinal neurosurgery.

Minimally invasive spine surgery. Preface.

Minimally invasive spine surgery. Preface. - PDF Download Free
142KB Sizes 0 Downloads 5 Views