Back pain is a common reason people consult their doctor, and in many cases, conservative treatment, including physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications, can bring relief.

However, spinal deformity, spinal infections, trauma, spine tumors and some degenerative spine conditions, such as stenosis and herniated disks, may require surgical treatment. For the best outcome, it makes sense to consult a spine surgery team with plenty of experience.

The spine surgeon may opt for an open (traditional) spine surgery procedure, which involves an incision along the backbone. The surgeon moves muscle and soft tissue aside to gain access to the bones of the spine and the spinal cord.

Minimally invasive techniques involve a smaller incision and the insertion of a tube, through which the surgeon inserts small surgical instruments to work on the spine. Minimally invasive techniques may be able to shorten recovery time and reduce the risk of complications.

Robotic spine surgery procedures can use GPS-like tracking systems to assist the spine surgeon in extremely precise placement of screws and other hardware in the course of repairing a damaged or deformed spine.