The growth of minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery

The first 2 decades of the new century have seen an explosion of new technology and surgical techniques in spine surgery, not the least of which has occurred in minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS). What was once the province of a few surgeons has become mainstream, with residents being trained in these procedures in every residency program. Originally used for lumbar discectomy, MIS techniques are now being adapted to resect intradural tumors and treat fractures in patients with polytrauma. In several centers, patients are undergoing outpatient transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery. Even the field of spinal deformity—itself a beneficiary of recent intense interest and study—has also benefited from this revolution. Patients are leaving the hospital sooner, experiencing less postoperative pain, and returning to work sooner.