Minuteman procedure
Spinal-segment fusion
The Minuteman procedure is a minimally invasive corrective surgery for those contending with chronic back pain and degenerative disc disease.
Dr. Gilthorpe makes a small incision, usually no more than one-inch wide, before placing a procession of tubes through the opening. Each tube will be larger than the one that preceded it, which allows the space around the muscles to slowly expand. This allows access to the spine. This process, known as dilation, is what prevents the need for a large incision.
Once the final tube is place, the small device is guided through the canal and implanted with bone graft. The last step is the removal of the tube and closing of the small incision.
This minimally invasive surgery takes less than an hour to complete.