Economic impact of minimally invasive lumbar surgery

Core Tip

Core tip: Minimally invasive lumbar microdiscectomy, decompression and short segment fixation result in clinical outcomes similar to traditional open surgery while decreasing the amount of blood loss, local tissue trauma, and length of hospitalization. Overall, there are few studies focusing on the economic impact of minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery. There is some evidence that minimally invasive short segment arthrodesis procedures are associated with higher cost effectiveness in acute perioperative period compared to traditional open surgery. Early results of minimally invasive surgical techniques for deformity correction appear promising, however, future studies need to address durability and cost effectiveness of these procedures.