Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) the world leader in spinal technology, announced today a pioneering approach to minimally invasive spinal fusion at the 26th annual meeting of the North American Spine Society in Chicago, IL.
“This surgical strategy enables a highly efficient, minimally invasive lumbar fusion, while allowing visualization of familiar posterior landmarks”
The MAST® MIDLF™procedure uses a proprietary retractor and cortical bone screw fixation in conjunction with Medtronic’s comprehensive surgical platform of interbody, navigation, neuromonitoring and biologic options. Referred to as a midline laminectomy approach, it is unique in that it enables a minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery, accessing the spine in the middle lower back, and eliminates the need for surgeons to work through a tubular retractor.
“This surgical strategy enables a highly efficient, minimally invasive lumbar fusion, while allowing visualization of familiar posterior landmarks,” said Dr. Richard Hynes, spine surgeon at The B.A.C.K. Center in Melbourne, FL. “A midline approach offers surgeons a number of benefits in addressing the challenges associated with decompression as well as sacral fixation in the lumbar or lower spine.”
The MAST® MIDLFTMprocedure may also be used with Medtronic’s surgical navigation and imaging systems. This allows for decreased exposure to radiation for hospital staff and physicians, with improved accuracy of device placement to avoid injury to nerves.
The MIDLF™ procedure is the latest advancement in a series of integrated procedural solutions that compliments Medtronic Spinal’s minimally invasive MAST® portfolio to successfully treat patients for a variety of degenerative and deformity spinal conditions. In the United States, over 250,000 individuals undergo spinal fusions annually to treat degenerative changes in the lumbar spine.
About Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery vs. Traditional Open-Back Surgery
- Minimally invasive surgery requires a smaller incision than traditional open-back surgery, leaving patients with smaller scars.
- Minimally invasive surgery has been reported to minimize injury to muscles, tendons, and other normal tissues that aren’t directly involved with the back disorders.1
- Additionally, it has been shown that patients of minimally invasive surgery versus traditional open-back surgery can have shorter hospital stays than traditional open spine surgeries.2
2 Park, Won Ha. Comparison of one-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion performed with a minimally invasive approach or a traditional open approach. SPINE 32 (5):537-543, 2007.
published: November 3, 2011 in: Congresses and Meetings, Launches / Withdrawals, Medtronic, Spine, Techniques