Surgery

Minimally invasive treatment of spinal and cranial pathology is a large part of Dr. Pearson's practice. He is frequently asked “What is minimally invasive surgery?” With regards to surgical treatments, this means causing the least amount of tissue disruption possible while still performing maximally effective surgery. However, the least invasive treatment of many potentially surgical problems involves no surgery at all. Dr. Pearson uses a multidisciplinary approach and try to push patients through a full spectrum of non-operative treatments before committing to the risk and tissue disturbances associated with surgical intervention. For brain tumor patients this will often mean a minimally invasive biopsy, followed by Cyberknife. Many patients with trigeminal neuralgia can now be effectively treated without ever making an incision. Neck and back pain patients can usually get substantial relief from physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle modifications. This can potentially avoid surgery altogether. Doing this may require more time and visits with each patient but allows Dr. Pearson to avoid operating unnecessarily, and also improves results for the patient.

For patients who do require surgery, this same thought process is brought into the operating room. Neuro-navigation (GPS for the brain) allows smaller incisions, and reduces risk for brain tumors. Muscle sparing spine surgery maintains the normal stabilizing function of the muscles around the spine and also allows an equally effective operation to be done through a much smaller incision.

A minimally invasive approach to neurosurgery leads to better results for patients by avoiding surgery until it is necessary, smaller incisions, faster recovery, fewer complications, and reducing long term pain.