History and Progress of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) has undergone remarkable evolution over the past several decades and has become increasingly adopted within the spine surgery community. At its core, MISS aims to minimize collateral soft tissue trauma while preserving stabilizing structures and achieving outcomes comparable to or better than those of traditional open approaches. Innovations such as tubular retractors, endoscopic visualization, and alternative surgical corridors have driven the expansion of MISS, initially in decompression and discectomy procedures and later in complex fusions and deformity corrections. Coupled with advancements in computer-assisted navigation and robotics, these techniques have demonstrated the potential to reduce complications, accelerate recovery, and lower healthcare costs. In this chapter, we provide a succinct historical overview of MISS, illustrating how each advancement has shaped modern spine surgery practice and fueled ongoing efforts to improve patient care.