ABSTRACT
With the advent of modern surgical technologies such as digital fluoroscopy, image guidance, high-resolution endoscopy, and surgical lasers, the use of minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of a variety of spinal pathologies has increased exponentially. These procedures offer both the real and potential advantages of decreased iatrogenic tissue trauma, smaller corridors of approach, reduced postoperative pain, truncated hospital stays, foreshortened recovery times, and a more rapid return to full function. To date, minimally invasive procedures are actively being applied in nearly all areas of the spinal column from the cervical (1,10,19,21,25) to the thoracic (23,38) to the lumbar region (4,5,8,11,12,17,22,24,26,28,29,31,32,35).
