Keyhole neurosurgery for optimal quality of life.

I’ve always favoured a minimally invasive approach to surgery, using smaller incisions and minimising the overall impact on a patient’s internal tissues. For me, many of the procedures I regularly perform to reduce compression on the spinal cord (the root cause of much pain) are like putting out spot fires. That’s the essence of the keyhole approach. The alternative is open surgery—larger incisions, more tissue damage, longer operations, extended recovery times, and a greater risk of complications. I saw plenty of these during my training and witnessed the ‘collateral damage’ they could cause, particularly in older patients who are more vulnerable to complications and drawn-out recoveries. I was fortunate to be mentored by some incredibly skilled practitioners of minimally invasive techniques. Not every surgeon can perform keyhole spine surgery, but for those who are candidates for spinal decompression, it’s certainly the option I would recommend.