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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A R C H 2 0 1 4
Which spine procedures
are routinely done in outpa-
tient surgery centers?
Microdiscectomy, pain pro-
cedures involving spinal cord
stimulators and percuta-
neous kyphoplasty have
become the norm. I'm also
performing single-level and
2-level lumbar interbody
fusions, microdecompres-
sions, laminoplasty, extreme
lateral interbody fusions
(XLIFs) and direct lateral
interbody fusions (DLIFs).
Anterior cervical discecto-
my and fusion (ACDF) pro-
cedures were almost all per-
formed in inpatient settings just 10 years ago, but more so for legal
concerns: Some surgeons were overly paranoid of the marginally
higher risk of patients developing breathing problems at home if a
wound hematoma or swelling developed following surgery. Now,
many surgeons are performing these procedures outpatient, and the
hope is more will do the same.
One of my studies compared the outcomes of true minimally inva-
sive surgery, which involves percutaneous procedures performed
through tubular retractors with X-ray guidance, with conventional
open surgeries and mini-open techniques, which involve smaller
incisions and the occasional use of tubular retractors or image guid-
ance.
S P I N E
IN THE ZONE Surgeons must operate how they
feel most comfortable, regardless of what label their
preferred technique falls under.
Boulder
Neurosurgical
&
Spine
Associates
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