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Perioperative nurses care for patients undergoing a wide range of surgical procedures. One fast-growing surgical specialty is spine surgery performed using minimally invasive techniques. Patients may be candidates for minimally invasive spine surgery based on their presenting signs and symptoms and medical imaging test results. Open anterior and posterior surgical approaches to spine surgery are how surgeons traditionally have performed these procedures. However, new technology has enabled a minimally invasive lateral approach to the spine. This approach minimizes many of the risks and challenges associated with both the anterior and posterior approaches. Minimally invasive lateral interbody fusion requires the perioperative nurse to have a thorough understanding of the necessary patient positioning, spinal anatomy, and OR suite setup to ensure a safe and successful surgical experience for the patient., (© AORN, Inc, 2018.)

A new development in spinal surgery uses cylindrical fusion devices for fixation and fusion. Two products, which involve differing procedures, instrumentation, and implants, have been used for more than two years and are becoming more popular as excellent fusion and recovery rates have been reported. This article discusses the historical background of surgery for spinal fusion and describes the preoperative preparation and procedures for both of the products. The conclusion summarizes postoperative care, patient teaching, and preventing possible complications.

Anterior discectomies and fusions are performed on patients who have anteriorly herniated discs. Fusions are accomplished using bone grafts harvested from the patient or by using cadaveric bone grafts that are inserted into the disc space for stability. This procedure traditionally has been performed through an open incision, but now can be accomplished using a video-assisted thoracoscope. The benefits of this minimally invasive technique for patients include decreased blood loss, less postoperative pain, and a shorter hospital stay.

Laparoscopic procedures, such as spinal fusions, facilitate patients' faster returns to functioning lifestyles. Fusions using implanted threaded cylinders made of a porous titanium alloy can be performed at the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine levels. This article discusses preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care of patients undergoing laparoscopic spinal fusion.

Transoral resection of an anterior spinal cord tumor consists of three major phases: corpectomy (i.e., removal of vertebral bodies), tumor resection, and duraplasty (i.e., repair of the dura mater). A second surgical procedure, posterior stabilization of the occiput to the C3 vertebra, consists of an iliac crest bone graft for cervical spine fusion and the application of a rigid fixation device. This article describes a patient who underwent a transoral resection of an extramedullary intradural tumor at the C2-C3 level of the spinal cord and a posterior cervical spine stabilization procedure. Perioperative nursing concerns and interventions are discussed from the standpoint of the patient's physical and mental postoperative recovery.