Minimally invasive spine surgery uses specialized instruments and a small incision — often less than an inch — to treat many spine conditions with less muscle disruption than traditional open surgery. Most patients go home the same day and return to daily activities in weeks rather than months.
What Is Minimally Invasive?
Traditional open spine surgery requires a long incision and significant retraction of the paraspinal muscles to give the surgeon visibility. While effective, this tissue disruption contributes to post-operative pain and a longer recovery. Minimally invasive techniques achieve the same surgical goals through a much smaller working corridor.
Dr. Chavarria uses tubular retractors, specialized lighting, and intraoperative fluoroscopic or CT-based navigation to perform decompression and fusion procedures through incisions typically less than one inch. These tools allow precise instrument placement with real-time feedback, maintaining the same level of surgical accuracy as open approaches.
Minimally invasive techniques are applicable to a wide range of spine procedures including discectomy, laminectomy, and interbody fusion (TLIF, LLIF/XLIF). The appropriate approach for each patient depends on anatomy, the specific pathology being treated, and surgeon experience with the technique.
Are You a Candidate?
- Patients with herniated disc causing leg or arm radiculopathy who have failed conservative treatment
- Patients with lumbar or cervical spinal stenosis causing neurogenic claudication or weakness
- Patients with spondylolisthesis or instability requiring fusion
- Patients who prefer smaller incisions and faster recovery times
- Patients who have been medically cleared for surgery and do not have severe deformity that would limit visualization
What to Expect
Pre-operative: You will meet with Dr. Chavarria to review your imaging, discuss the surgical plan, and complete pre-surgical testing. Most blood thinners are held for 5–7 days before surgery.
Day of surgery: Most minimally invasive procedures take 1–3 hours under general anesthesia. The incision site has a small dressing. You will recover in the post-anesthesia care unit before same-day discharge or a brief overnight stay.
First 2 weeks: Pain is managed with oral medications. Most patients are walking within hours of surgery. A follow-up appointment occurs at 7–10 days for wound check and early activity guidance.
4–12 weeks: Return to desk work often occurs within 2–4 weeks. Physical therapy typically begins at 4–6 weeks. Full return to physical labor or exercise depends on the specific procedure and healing progress.
Why Choose Dr. Chavarria for Your Minimally Invasive in Reno?
- Incisions typically less than one inch
- Significantly less blood loss compared to open approaches
- Lower infection risk due to smaller wound
- Same-day or next-day discharge for most procedures
- Faster return to work and daily activities
- Less post-operative narcotic requirement