Dr. Zeeshan Sardar, MD, MSc, F.R.C.S.C
Co-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery • Director, Quality & Patient Safety (QPS)
Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University • New York, NY
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) uses small incisions and specialized tubular retractors to reach the spine without cutting through the surrounding muscles. Rather than detaching muscle from bone — the source of much of the pain and recovery time after traditional open surgery — the muscle is gently spread aside and returns to its normal position once the procedure is complete. The result is typically less postoperative pain, less blood loss, and a faster return to normal activity.
Dr. Sardar uses minimally invasive techniques whenever they are appropriate for a patient’s anatomy and condition, combining them as standard with robotic-assisted navigation and real-time imaging to maintain precision through a smaller surgical footprint.
HOW MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY WORKS
Instead of a long incision and broad retraction of the back muscles, MIS procedures use a tubular retractor — a narrow cylindrical instrument inserted through a small incision and advanced down to the spine. The retractor holds a tunnel open through the soft tissue rather than cutting through it, giving Dr. Sardar direct access to the affected level using specialized instruments that fit through its center.
Any disc material or bone removed during decompression exits through the retractor, and implants such as screws and rods for fusion are placed through the same small corridor. Depending on the procedure, one or two retractors may be used, and a surgical microscope or loupes provide magnification and illumination throughout. At the end of the case, the retractor is removed and the muscle returns to its original position — it was never cut or stripped from the bone.
PROCEDURES PERFORMED MINIMALLY INVASIVELY
Dr. Sardar performs the following procedures using minimally invasive techniques when appropriate:
- Lumbar Microdiscectomy — removal of herniated disc material compressing a nerve root
- Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression — relieving spinal stenosis without open laminectomy
- MIS TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion) — fusion performed through bilateral tubular retractors with robotic-assisted screw placement
- MIS Pedicle Screw Fixation — percutaneous screw placement for select fusion and trauma cases
Not every spinal condition is suited to a minimally invasive approach. Multilevel deformity correction, severe sagittal imbalance, and certain revision cases require open exposure to safely achieve correction. Dr. Sardar will tell you plainly whether a minimally invasive option is appropriate for your specific anatomy, or whether a traditional open approach will give you a better and more durable result.
RECOVERY
Recovery timelines vary by procedure and patient, but minimally invasive surgery generally shortens hospital stays compared with open surgery. Many MIS patients go home the same day or within 1 to 2 days, while patients undergoing comparable traditional open procedures typically stay 3 to 5 days.
Because the muscles and soft tissues are preserved rather than cut, postoperative pain is generally less than after an equivalent open procedure, although some discomfort during the healing process is normal. Dr. Sardar’s team provides a detailed pain management and activity plan for every patient before and after surgery.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is minimally invasive surgery right for everyone?
No. MIS techniques are well-suited to many single- and multi-level degenerative conditions, but severe deformity, significant sagittal imbalance, and many revision cases are safer and more reliably corrected through an open approach. Dr. Sardar will recommend the technique that gives you the best outcome, not necessarily the smallest incision.
Does minimally invasive surgery achieve the same result as open surgery?
For appropriately selected patients, yes — decompression and fusion rates with MIS techniques are comparable to open surgery, with the added benefit of less tissue disruption. The key is appropriate patient selection, which is why a thorough evaluation and imaging review come before any recommendation.
How long does recovery take after MIS surgery?
Most patients are walking the same day or the day after surgery. Return to light activity is typically within 2 to 4 weeks, with full recovery depending on the specific procedure performed.
WHY CHOOSE DR. SARDAR
Dr. Sardar trained across three fellowship programs spanning orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgery, disc replacement, and complex spinal deformity, giving him the judgment to know when a minimally invasive approach is the right tool and when it is not. As Co-Chief of Spinal Deformity Surgery at the Och Spine Hospital at NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University, he combines minimally invasive technique with robotic-assisted navigation and intraoperative neuromonitoring as standard practice.
Telemedicine consultations are available for patients in NY, NJ, CT, FL, PA, MO, CA, and TX.
This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized medical advice. Please consult a qualified spine specialist to discuss your specific condition and treatment options.
REQUEST A CONSULTATION
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Sardar, call 212-932-5187 or visit the contact page.