Dr. Richard Hynes: Why a Spine-Focused ASC is Important for the Future of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Spine
Laura Dyrda -

Richard Hynes, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon in Melbourne, Fla., gave a presentation titled "The Future of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery—Why a Spine-Focused ASC is Important" at the 9th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago on June 10, 2011. Dr. Hynes performs several procedures, including laminectomies, anterior cervical discectomies and fusions and other minimally invasive, percutaneous spine procedures in an outpatient ambulatory surgery center. The advantages of performing cases in the ASC include the same or quicker recovery time, reduced length of stay in a medical facility and same-day recovery.

Improved technology for less invasive procedures has made it possible to bring spine cases into the outpatient setting. Interbody fixation, bone morphogenic protein and percutaneous procedures are the way of the future, said Dr. Hynes, and the methodology will continue to evolve for better outcomes. Most recently, minimally invasive procedures through a lateral access point, such as extreme lateral interbody fusions, have made it possible to perform less extensive spinal corrections, including scoliosis, as an outpatient procedure.

Dynamic stabilization products, such as the Bryan, Prevail and Prestige, have also become more prevalent. Unfortunately, even though studies show these procedures can have better outcomes than fusions, payors do not recognize them. In today's healthcare environment, it has become difficult for surgeons to bring innovations to the U.S. market because of the tight regulatory guidelines. Many of the products developed in the United States are now headed overseas to Europe, where regulations are less strenuous.

Related Articles on Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery:

Outpatient Spine: 6 Big Questions
5 Ways to Capitalize on Outpatient Spine Surgery

5 Benefits and Challenges of Adding Outpatient Spine to ASCs

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