Until recently, spinal surgery was reserved for patients with severe or disabling pain, usually experienced in the back and legs. The surgery involved the removal of the herniated or ruptured disc and sometimes the fusion of the disc with bone or metal plates, wires and screws. To reach the affected area, surgeons had to cut through muscles and ligaments and the delicate nerves that surround the spine. The surgery carried the risk of general anesthesia and post-operative risks, including loss of nerve function and a weakness of the back muscles cut during surgery.

The minimally invasive techniques practiced at Innovative SpineCare allow the physician to reach the affected area either through a needle or through a tiny incision to the side of the back muscles. The techniques can be performed without general anesthesia under gentle conscious sedation, further increasing safety and reducing the chance of nerve injury.

For several years, the physicians at Innovative SpineCare have been using needle disc treatment such as IntraDiscal ElectroThermy (IDET) and the Percutaneous Coblation Disc Decompression (NUCELOPLASTY) to treat patients with painful disc problems.

Now, recent medical advancements with arthroscopes, long used in treating knee and shoulder problems, have made possible the development of "spinal endoscopes" for use in our minimally invasive spinal techniques.