[Early results utilizing a new minimally invasive technique--VuePass, in spine surgery]

In the paper we present the early results in 10 patients operated with the VuePass system for minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). The system employs the paramedial approach to the spine preserving the muscle insertion to the posterior elements of the spinal column. The system is used at the Spine Department of the University Hospital in Poznan since the beginning of the 2005. Since then we have performed performed 6 fusions of the motion segments of the lumbar spine and 4 simple discectomy (6 women and 4 men aged 31 through 56). In the analysis we have evaluated duration of the surgery, changes of the back pain and disability measured with the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI), intraoperative blood loss and the necessity of the post operative blood transfusion. The advantages of the MISS techniques include minimal approach, with less paraspinal muscle trauma. It direct address to the lesion site that resembles the open technique, and enhanced operative field visualization with a paramedial skin incision. The MISS technique limits the intra operative bleeding decreasing necessity for blood transfusion in postoperative period.