Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD) is a new procedure which is increasingly popular today in treating several back problems due to compression. It is a new procedure which is just approved by the FDA for clinical use. It is one procedure that is cost effective and less invasive. If in any case the condition does not improve with MILD then doctors can go on further using more invasive surgeries.
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression procedure is generally done in an operating room under fluoroscopic control. Procedure involves a small incision about half an inch or even less where an instrument is inserted and guides it through the affected area. This specialized mini instrument will then remove some of the fibrous tissue. The patient is usually under a local anesthetic and this procedure usually last for half an hour. No sutures are use and patient is steri-stripped.
Recovery time is short. In some cases patient is required to spend at least one night in the hospital but there are cases too when patient can be sent home just after the surgery and return to its normal activities gradually. As the day goes you can increase your activities to a level that you can tolerate or you are comfortable in the next three to four days. Most of these patients are over their surgery in two weeks or three weeks time. Most of these patients observe less pain or even pain free after.
MILD procedure is specifically intended for older patients who are advised to have a traditional open surgery which will require months of recovery. This procedure is minimally invasive and it can be done with only a night stay in the hospital. There is less risk and complications with this procedure unlike the traditional open back surgery.
The effectiveness of such procedure is supported with studies and the result showed that minimally invasive lumbar spine decompression is effective and safe treatment for those advance in age and who is suffering from spondylosis and spinal Stenosis. Elder patients are definitely good candidates for MILD (Neurosurgery 2007).