Spine-related Ambulatory Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Less Invasive Spine Surgery

ambulatory care, back surgery, minimally invasive surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, ACA, ASC, ambulatory surgery centers

Historically, back surgery had a reputation for damaging muscles along the spinal column and requiring a long post-operative period of physical therapy to restore mobility. This is because traditional back surgery involves long, deep incisions that lacerate muscle and retract upon muscle so that the incision may be pulled open, giving the surgeon a full view of the incision site as well as the damage to be repaired in the spinal column. While this method is effective, it also poses a few serious risks to the patient’s health: the aforementioned lengthy recovery time (and compromised mobility during physical therapy) as well as the increased risk for surgical site infection (SSI) from keeping the patient’s internal workings exposed to open air (and thus possible contamination).  There can also be additional spine pain during the recovery process of large open spine procedures.

ambulatory care, back surgery, minimally invasive surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, ACA, ASC, ambulatory surgery centers

Fortunately, recent advancements in both hospital technology and neurosurgery / spine surgery skills has made it easier for spine surgeons to perform spine surgery with less interruption of normal tissues surrounding the spine.  Many spine procedures now use a device called a tubular retractor, which is a small metal tube that is inserted through a small incision near the patient’s spine. The tubular retractor grants the surgeon access to the damaged spinal column or herniated disc within the spinal canal. Any material threatening the patient, such as a fragmented spinal disc or piece of vertebral bone tissue, is extracted through the tubular retractor, while any equipment necessary for the back surgery (such as plates or screws to stabilize a damaged spinal column) is inserted through the retractor. Some procedures may require surgeons to use multiple retractors, but the small incisions damage the muscles along the spinal column far less than traditional deep incisions. This minimizes recovery time, reduces the risk of surgical site infection, and helps patients preserve their mobility during recovery.

ambulatory care, back surgery, minimally invasive surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, ACA, ASC, ambulatory surgery centers, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Tomball, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center (TMC)

Minimally-invasive surgery procedures on the spine also occasionally transform the classification of certain kinds of surgery. Whereas traditional back surgery requires a hospital visit, minimally-invasive techniques allow many kinds of surgery to be possible in an ambulatory care setting. In other words, instead of a hospital visit compounding the expense of certain kinds of surgery, patients (and insurance companies) are finding the benefit of  performing spine surgery procedures in an outpatient setting. The Affordable Care Act (ACA, PPACA) of 2010 (also known as the ACA or Obamacare or PPACA) became famous for the mandate that required all US small business owners with 50 or more full-time employees to purchase health insurance coverage benefits for their full-time staff. As of 2015, the long-term effects of the Affordable Care Act (PPACA) remain to be seen. Sweeping re-classification of major surgical procedures has yet to emerge under the ACA / PPACA, as there are still very real practical concerns: how to prevent surgical site infection effectively, for example. New methods of pay for performance and bundled care payments may also change the way healthcare is evaluated and reimbursed, and will encourage decreased hospital stays and improved outcomes.  New minimally invasive spine surgery techniques are emerging, however, so additional ambulatory care surgery may be increasingly employed in the future.  Ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) are ideal for spine surgery procedures in which patients are expected to return home the same day, or within 23 hours of the surgery.  There are also many conveniences to a patient, when having a surgery performed in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC).  The ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) are very well prepared to quickly and efficiently move patients through the preop evaluation process.  The patient stays briefly in the preop holding area while the nurse evaluates the patient, the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist speaks with the patient, and the neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon identifies the patient (to prevent any wrong patient surgery from occurring).  The patient is then taken back to the operating room, and put to sleep, and the neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon performs the procedure.  The patient is then taken to the post op recovery room, and usually held there until the patient is awake enough, and the pain is well controlled enough, to allow discharge of the patient home.

ambulatory care, back surgery, minimally invasive surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, ACA, ASC, ambulatory surgery centers, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Tomball, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center (TMC)

Minimally invasive spine surgery employs less invasive spine surgery techniques to approach the spine.  These minimally invasive surgery on the spine techniques can be used to perform lumbar discectomy for removal of a herniated disc, as well as for a lumbar fusion ( ALIF, TLIF, PLIF, DLIF, XLIF).

ambulatory care, back surgery, minimally invasive surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, ACA, ASC, ambulatory surgery centers, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Tomball, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center (TMC)

Physicians at the Kraus Back and Neck Institute have significant experience treating patients with diseases of the spine in an ambulatory outpatient setting.  They are well versed in the full spectrum of treatments, and know when to advise conservative measures, and when to recommend surgical intervention upon the spine.

The Kraus Back and Neck Institute (KBNI) in Houston TX cares for patients in Houston and the surrounding areas, including Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Tomball, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center  (TMC) and other Texas TX cities including Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin.

Patients suffering from neck pain or lower back pain, or who have been told they may require a spine surgery, can contact the Kraus Back and Neck Institute at

…….  281-713-6296

…….  Or visit www.SpineHealth.com to SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE

……. KBNI VIDEO on Back and Neck Pain Treatment : Don’t Live in Fear and Pain

Keywords: ambulatory care, back surgery, minimally invasive surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, ACA, Affordable Care Act,  PPACA,  ASC, ambulatory surgery centers, Houston, Sugarland, Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Sealy, Baytown, Pearland, Beaumont, Galleria, Tomball, Conroe, Humble, Kingwood, Port Arthur, Galveston, Memorial City, Texas Medical Center  (TMC), Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin