• Microendoscopic discectomy (MED)

It is the treatment for lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. This method can reduce the size of surgical incision to around 1.6 cm and cause less damage to the soft tissues. In addition, post-operative pain is less and recovery phase is shortened.
 

• Microendoscopic decompressive laminotomy (MEDL)

This method, which related study was published on European Spine Journal 2009, is for treating degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Through a single small incision (about 1.6 cm), surgeons can performed decompression of both sides of spinal canal. This one-sided approach leads to less damages to the tissues, especially the lamina and facet joints. This method allows sufficient decompression while maintaining the spinal stability; as the result, the morbidities of spinal fusion and related complications are prevented.
 

• Mini-open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (mini-TLIF)

This treatment is for intervertebral disc disorders related to spinal degeneration, including spondylolisthesis and recurrent herniated intervertebral disc. The intervertebral disc is reset via explicit positioning system, percutaneous spinal nails system used for minimally invasive surgery, and interbody cage.The size of surgical incision would be only 3 cm long. For the fusion surgery of triple thoracic vertebra, the surgical wound is about 4 cm. In addition to less post-operative pain, patients experience shorter recovery time and lower risk of complications due to less damages to back muscle.
 

• Percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP) and Percutaneous kyphoplasty (KP)

It is the treatment for lumbar compression fractures associated with osteoporosis. This method can be performed with local anesthesia and result in minimal size of incision (around 0.2 to 0.3 cm). Unlike the patients who receive traditional treatments and suffer great pain and complications related to long-term bedridden, most patients experience notable pain relief and are able to walk on the first day.

Although minimally invasive procedure enables to relieve pain and speeds up the recovery, patients still need to change daily behaviors in order to improve your bone density. For example, physical activity, sunlight exposure, high intake of vitamin D and calcium, and the prescription for osteoporosis are all good way to build stronger bones and reduce your risk of bone fracture.