Current Advances and Evidence in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
1Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
2Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Current Advances and Evidence in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Description
Modern surgical practices continue to embrace less invasive techniques that utilize smaller operative corridors. In the last decade, multiple new technologies and techniques have become available to spine surgeons. The principle behind these procedures is to continue to effectively address a patient's spinal pathology, but with only minimal disturbance to their normal anatomy. Initially, this was performed primarily through muscle-sparing tubular access. However, the application of these principles now allows for the percutaneous placement of pedicle screws and interbody grafts, facet fixation, the treatment of advanced spinal deformity, trauma, and spinal tumors. Further, these techniques have also used previously underutilized access corridors, such as the lateral retroperitoneal space. This corridor allows for access to the anterior spinal column for interbody fixation or to address pathology of the anterior column.
We invite authors to submit original research or review articles that help to explore the new advances in the field. We are particularly interested in articles focused on specific techniques within this group of technologies. Manuscripts focused on clinical outcomes as well as an evaluation of the current evidence are also of particular interest. The focus will be served on technique, evidence-based, and complications associated with minimally invasive operations. Selected papers will be chosen for papers that pertain to techniques in each region of the spine (including techniques in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions). Other potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- New techniques in minimally invasive spine surgery (interspinous fixation, facet fixation, scoliosis surgery)
- Complications in minimally invasive spine—lateral lumbar approach, MI-TLIF, and durotomy
- Anatomical papers focused on approach anatomy
- Surgery-specific outcomes in minimally invasive spine
Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/mis/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: