Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: New Challenges and Trends

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2026

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Division of Neurosurgery, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: neurosurgery; oncology; spine surgery; minivasive; skull base

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Guest Editor Assistant
Neurosurgery Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, 20131 Milan, Italy
Interests: meningioma; neurosurgery; peritumoral brain edema; tumor recurrence; spine surgery; pain; glioblastoma; complex regional pain syndrome; CRPS; glioma

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) represents one of the most significant shifts in modern spinal care. Over the past two decades, it has transformed the way we approach spinal pathology—reducing tissue trauma, operative morbidity, and hospital stays, while improving recovery times and patient satisfaction. This Special Issue aims to provide an in-depth overview of current advances, persistent challenges, and future directions in the field of MISS.

The Issue will highlight state-of-the-art techniques such as endoscopic and biportal decompression, percutaneous fusion, and the integration of navigation and robotic technologies. It will also address the evolving landscape of outpatient spine surgery and ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols, which are enabling increasingly complex procedures to be performed in ambulatory settings.

Nonetheless, significant challenges remain: steep learning curves, complex revision cases, the need for structured training, and limitations in widespread adoption. Special attention will be given to standardizing complication reporting, economic feasibility, and international reimbursement variability.

This Special Issue will include original research, technical notes, video-based education, and comprehensive reviews. Contributions from leaders in spine surgery, neurosurgery, and orthopedics will offer a multidisciplinary perspective.

Our goal is to provide clinicians and researchers with a practical and forward-looking resource that reflects both the promise and complexity of MISS. We believe this issue will be a timely and valuable addition to the literature and an essential reference for all those involved in advancing spinal care through minimally invasive strategies.

Dr. Amedeo Piazza
Guest Editor

Dr. Umberto Aldo Arcidiacono
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • minimally invasive spine surgery
  • endoscopic spinal decompression
  • robotics and navigation in spine surgery
  • enhanced recovery after spine surgery (ERAS)
  • surgical training and outcomes in MISS

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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