Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.6
2.4
Journals
Medicina
Special Issues
Advances in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: Technology Innovations and Complications...
share announcement

Advances in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: Technology Innovations and Complications Management

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Orthopedics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 1981

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sravisht Iyer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City, NY 10021, USA
2. Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY 10065, USA
Interests: scoliosis; spine surgery; spinal surgery; spinal biomechanics; musculoskeletal disorders; biomechanics; microneurosurgery; spine; spine research; lumbar spine
Dr. Atahan Durbas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Spine Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 E 70th St., New York, NY 10021, USA
Interests: spine; spine surgery; orthopaedics; orthopedic surgery; lumbar spine; cervical spine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has revolutionized spine care by minimizing tissue disruption, reducing postoperative complications, and accelerating patient recovery. With the growing complexity of spinal disorders and the demand for precision, innovations such as surgical navigation, robotics, advanced imaging, and novel biomaterials have significantly expanded the scope and safety of MISS. However, these advancements also bring new challenges in complication management, particularly in complex cases like spinal deformity and revision surgeries.

This Special Issue, “Advances in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: Technology Innovations and Complications Management”, invites original research articles, reviews, case series, and technical notes that explore the latest developments in MISS. Topics may include technological innovations, surgical techniques, perioperative care strategies, and complication prevention or management. We encourage multidisciplinary contributions to promote collaboration and drive progress in this evolving field.

By sharing cutting-edge findings and clinical experiences, this collection aims to support surgeons, researchers, and healthcare professionals in optimizing MISS outcomes and advancing spine care globally.

Dr. Sravisht Iyer
Guest Editor

Dr. Atahan Durbas
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • minimally invasive techniques
  • spine surgery
  • fusion
  • robotic
  • image-guided surgery
  • endoscopic spine surgery
  • spinal deformity
  • spinal implants and biomaterials
  • patient outcomes
  • perioperative care

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

11 pages, 560 KB  
Article
Impact of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Endplate Changes on Cefazolin Penetration into the Intervertebral Disc
by Aleksejs Repnikovs, Kalvis Briuks, Artūrs Paulausks, Pēteris Studers, Konstantīns Logviss, Baiba Mauriņa, Dace Bandere, Jānis Kurlovičs and Sigita Kazūne
Medicina 2025, 61(11), 1999; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61111999 - 7 Nov 2025
Viewed by 948
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Preoperative cefazolin is the standard of care for intervertebral disc surgery as it reduces the incidence of iatrogenic spondylodiscitis. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of intervertebral disc degeneration and endplate changes on the penetration [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Preoperative cefazolin is the standard of care for intervertebral disc surgery as it reduces the incidence of iatrogenic spondylodiscitis. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of intervertebral disc degeneration and endplate changes on the penetration of prophylactic cefazolin into the intervertebral disc during spinal surgery. Materials and Methods: Adult patients undergoing single-level microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation received prophylaxis with 2 g of cefazolin. Venous blood and intervertebral disc samples were collected and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography to determine cefazolin concentrations. The severity of intervertebral disc and endplate changes was assessed on magnetic resonance images using the Pfirrmann and Modic grading systems. Results: Cefazolin concentrations were significantly higher in cases with Modic type II changes compared to type 0/I (14.6 ± 9.2 µg g−1 vs. 10.2 ± 4.5 µg g−1 and 9.2 ± 4.1 µg g−1; p = 0.01). 35.4% of patients with Modic type II changes had concentrations > 16 µg g−1, compared to 10% and 25% for patients with Modic type 0/I (p = 0.008). For Pfirrmann grading, 34.6% of grade V discs reached >16 µg g−1 versus 16.7% and 20.3% for grades III and IV (p = 0.26). Patient age, weight, and timing showed no significant correlations with intradisc concentrations. Conclusions: Ninety-four percent of disc samples exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus (>4 µg/g), but considerable variability in cefazolin levels was observed, with higher concentrations in discs showing Modic type II changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: Technology Innovations and Complications Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

12 pages, 896 KB  
Systematic Review
Radiation Exposure in Minimally Invasive Cervical Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review
by Dong Hun Kim, Jung-Woo Hur and Jae Taek Hong
Medicina 2026, 62(5), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62050977 - 17 May 2026
Viewed by 237
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Minimally invasive cervical spine surgery (MIS-CSS) relies heavily on intraoperative fluoroscopic imaging, raising concerns about radiation exposure to patients and surgical staff. Unlike lumbar MIS, cervical-specific radiation exposure has not been systematically reviewed, despite distinct anatomical considerations, including proximity [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Minimally invasive cervical spine surgery (MIS-CSS) relies heavily on intraoperative fluoroscopic imaging, raising concerns about radiation exposure to patients and surgical staff. Unlike lumbar MIS, cervical-specific radiation exposure has not been systematically reviewed, despite distinct anatomical considerations, including proximity to the thyroid gland and lens of the eye. This review aims to quantify intraoperative radiation exposure during MIS cervical spine procedures and evaluate available dose-reduction strategies. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar in April 2026 following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies reporting original quantitative radiation data during minimally invasive cervical spine procedures in adult patients (≥10 patients) were included. Quality was assessed using the MINORS tool and the JBI checklist. Results: Seven studies encompassing 380 patients were included. Procedures comprised ACDF (four studies), minimally invasive posterior cervical laminoforaminotomy (two studies), and CT-navigated cervical instrumentation (one study). Patient effective doses during ACDF ranged from 0.015 to 1.3 mSv, with thyroid doses of 0.194–0.290 mGy. Standalone ACDF reduced patient dose by 36–58% compared to plated ACDF (p < 0.001). Navigation-assisted posterior cervical foraminotomy achieved a median fluoroscopy time of 10 s with negligible staff exposure. Surgeon per-procedure exposure during cervical discectomy (chest 0.122 µSv, lens 3.1 µSv, hands 7.1 µSv) was approximately half that of lumbar discectomy. Conclusions: Radiation doses during individual MIS cervical procedures appear to be within occupational safety limits, though the current evidence is insufficient to establish definitive dose thresholds. Standalone implant designs and intraoperative navigation represent effective, complementary dose-reduction strategies. Standardized prospective research is needed to establish cervical-specific radiation safety benchmarks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: Technology Innovations and Complications Management)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop