What is Minuteman surgery?
The “Minuteman” surgery is an implant device designed to increase the spaces in the lumbar spine for the nerve roots, as well as to stabilize the alignment between lumbar vertebral bodies. It is commonly referred to as posterior arthrodesis in medical terminology, which refers to the fusion-stabilization between two lumbar vertebral bodies.
How is the treatment done?
The treating physician creates a 3-4cm incision in the left lateral flank. Then XR guidance is used to guide the implant into the correct space. The implant is inserted between two spinous processes of the lumbar vertebral bodies after embedding a specific material inside the implant, which is called bone graft. The graft material is used to fuse the bones between adjacent spinous processes. The total time of the procedure averages around 1 hour.
What are the benefits of Minuteman Surgery ?
Benefits of Minuteman Surgery:
Minimally invasive: The surgery is done through one small incision in the left flank, causing less pain and hastening a speedy recovery compared to open spine surgeries. It also avoids damage to the posterior low back muscles, which also reduces recovery time.
Fast Recovery: All patients are discharged home and do not have to stay in the hospital overnight after the procedure.
When will I feel better after the Minuteman procedure?
The time to feel improvement varies from person to person. Some get back to normal activities in a few weeks, while others may take a bit more time (i.e. 10-12 weeks).
