Spinal Fusion Surgery

Minimally Invasive Fusion (MIS / MISt)

What Is MIS?

MIS stands for "Minimally Invasive Surgery" — surgery performed through small incisions to reduce the impact on your body.

• Smaller skin incisions
• Less blood loss
• Minimal muscle damage

This typically means less pain, faster mobilization, and shorter hospital stays.

What Is MISt?

MISt stands for "Minimally Invasive Spine Stabilization" — a general term for stabilizing the spine through small incisions.

Traditional fusion required a large incision with extensive muscle dissection. With MISt, several small openings are used to insert screws and spacers.

Because blood loss and pain are reduced, MISt allows elderly patients in particular to get back on their feet sooner.

How Do MIS-TLIF and Similar Terms Fit In?

PLIF, TLIF, LLIF, and ALIF can each be performed in either a traditional (open) way or a minimally invasive (MIS) way.

For example:

• MIS-TLIF = TLIF performed through small incisions
• MIS-PLIF, MIS-LLIF = the same concept applied to other approaches

In short:

• MIS = Small-incision surgery to reduce the burden on your body (general term)
• MISt = The subset of MIS specifically for spine stabilization procedures