Neurosurgeons at St. Vincent’s were the first in the state to perform minimally invasive spine surgery using state-of-the-art technology. This January about 65 patients have been treated this way and results are good.

The primary use for this is to implant what are called pedicle screws in doing a fusion. There are a number of people who have lumbar fusions for back pain and leg pain, but this technology allows surgeons to to do this with is a minimally invasive technique where the screws are put in percutaneously. There is a preoperative three dimensional plan done on a computer; where a model is constructed. This results in faster recovery time, minimal scars and fewer potential complications.