Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery More Expensive?

Category: Spine Surgery | Author: Stefano Sinicropi

Spine-Surgery-Patient

Minimally invasive spine surgery is becoming the norm. Traditional open spine surgery can present with some additional potential complications for the patient, so when available, a minimally invasive surgery is almost always preferred. However, many patients wonder if they are paying more in order to undergo this newer version of surgery. Below, we explain if minimally invasive surgery is more expensive than traditional spine surgery.

The Cost Of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

As we’ve said on the blog plenty of times in the past, we’re going to speak in generalities here, and every situation will be unique to the individual. That being said, minimally invasive surgery tends to end up being cheaper than traditional spine surgery in a number of ways.

  • Shorter Hospital Stay – Because there is less trauma to the soft tissues around the surgical site, many patients require a much shorter stay in the hospital, which tends to greatly reduce costs associated with your surgery!
  • Reduced Risk Of Complications – Patients who undergo minimally invasive spine surgery also tend to have a reduced risk of complications. On average, patients are less likely to deal with complications like nerve damage, bleeding or clotting issues with a minimally invasive procedure compared to an open operation. Complications will almost certainly extend your stay in the hospital, so by pursuing a minimally invasive procedure, you’re working to reduce potential hospital stay costs.
  • Quicker Return To Work – Minimally invasive surgery can also make sense from a financial standpoint because it can help you return to your job sooner. As we mentioned above, traditional open operations tend to come with a longer recovery time, which can keep you away from your job longer than you expected. If you’re not working because you’re still recovering, you’re missing out on a payday, which can affect your finances on the front end. A minimally invasive procedure can oftentimes get you back to earning a paycheck sooner.
  • Surgery Tends To Be Cheaper – Again, this is why we mentioned generalities above, but oftentimes a minimally invasive procedure is cheaper than an open operation. Open operations tend to take longer to complete, whereas many minimally invasive operations can be conducted in less than an hour. The time it takes to complete a procedure isn’t the only factor that is involved in the total cost, but it does play a role in billing, so a shorter minimally invasive procedure can help you avoid a hefty surgical bill.
  • Less Physical Therapy – Finally, while you’ll likely need physical therapy regardless of what type of procedure you pursue, odds are you’ll need fewer physical therapy sessions in order to make a full recovery following a minimally invasive operation. Again, this is tied to the fact that minimally invasive procedures are typically less traumatic on the body and lead to faster recoveries. You can keep medical costs down by eliminating the need for months of physical therapy if a minimally invasive procedure is an option.

And of course, you can reduce the total cost associated with a spine injury by connecting with a spine surgeon who has an impeccable track record of fixing issues during the first treatment or surgery, like Dr. Sinicropi. To connect with him about your back issue, or for answers to any questions you might have, give his office a call today at (651) 430-3800.

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