HealthEast Care System is proud to be a regional destination center for minimally invasive spine surgery with experienced surgeons and state-of-the-art technology, including advanced image-guidance and O-ARM technology.  

How it works

Minimally invasive surgery involves gaining access to the spine through small incisions or punctures that cause less injury to surrounding tissue, muscle and normal spine structures than traditional surgery. Minimally invasive surgery patients experience far less pain after surgery and are able to return home and resume normal activities more quickly.  In addition, patients have less risk of developing future spinal disorders as occurs in more than 20% of standard spine surgery cases.

HealthEast spine surgeons have the option to couple minimally-invasive spine surgery with spinal navigation and guidance systems providing patients with unparalleled safety and outcomes.  Not all patients will be candidates for this procedure, so please call to find out if you qualify for this option.

Benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery:

• A few tiny scars instead of one large scar
• Shorter hospital stay: same day instead of 4 to 5 days
• Dramatically reduced postoperative pain
• Shorter recovery time and quicker return to daily activities and work

Minimally invasive spine surgery is offered at the following HealthEast hospitals:

• St. John's Hospital – Maplewood, MN
• St. Joseph's Hospital – St. Paul, MN
  featuring O-ARM and Stealth technology
• Woodwinds Health Campus – Woodbury, MN