Defining Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery:

The Merriam Webster dictionary suggests the following definitions are true:

The definition of neurosurgery is a "surgery of nervous structures (including the nerves, the brain, or the spinal cord)."

Neurosurgeon is defined as "a surgeon specializing in neurosurgery."

When looking for convenient published definitions of "minimally invasive" it isn't as easy to come up with a concise and all inclusive definition. But the following are commonly accepted definitions. Minimally invasive refers to:

-a surgery with a small incision made through which instrumentation inserted to complete the procedure.

-a surgery that causes the least damage possible to the body while treating the condition at hand.

-a surgery that results in minimal scarring and little to no recovery time.

Surgery can be divided into three basic types: non-invasive, minimally invasive and invasive. Open heart surgery is an example of an invasive procedure.

The combination of terms generates a new definition. Minimally invasive neurosurgery refers to the least invasive method available for treating a specific condition that falls under the specialty of neurosurgery. The neurosurgery specialty is primarily concerned with disorders of the nervous system. The purpose can be to prevent, diagnose, treat or rehabilitate. Conditions of the nervous system can be of or related to any of the following: peripheral nerves, brain spinal column, spinal column, and/or the extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.

About Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery:

As technology creates the opportunities to perform the necessary procedures using minimally invasive techniques high risk surgeries are becoming a thing of the past. The newest technologies generate the capability for minimally invasive surgical procedures to be more targeted, quicker, more precise in diagnosis/identification of problem, etc. More surgeons adopt the minimally invasive procedures as technological advances increase their availability.

Neurosurgeons who have the desire to provide the most minimally invasive of surgical options will generally provide some or all of the following: minimally invasive brain surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery, endoscopic spine surgery, endoscopic ventricular surgery, endoscopic transcranial skullbase surgery, endoscopic endonasal pituitary and skullbase surgery, etc.

Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery Recovery:

As with any surgical procedures recovery time varies depending upon the general health of the individual, the specifics of the operation, the extent of the operation, etc. But minimally invasive neurosurgery carries far less risks for complications during and after surgery than traditional surgical counterparts. Recovery time when using minimally invasive neurosurgery is also drastically reduced in comparison to more invasive surgical techniques.