Classification of minimally invasive spine techniques

  (a) Percutaneous techniques: percutaneous intervertebral foramen, epidural injection; percutaneous discography, intervertebral disc nucleotomy APLD, intervertebral disc chemical nucleolysis, intradiscal electrothermal therapy IDET; percutaneous vertebroplasty PVP, PKP; percutaneous pedicle screw or hollow nail internal fixation.  (B) thoracoscopic or laparoscopic techniques: for anterior discectomy and intervertebral fusion, internal fixation of vertebral body lesion removal implants, anterior decompression and release orthopaedics, etc.  (iii) Surgical techniques for canal expansion systems: discoscopy, intervertebral foraminoscopy; several accesses: Sofamor’s METRx X-Tube system, Zimmer’s Atavi system, Depuy’s PIPELINE Access system, Stryker’s Luxor system, MaXcess system.  (iv) Small incision techniques: small incision TLIF, ALIF, TLIF, XLIF, AxiaLIF procedures, commonly used are Wiltse paravertebral muscle gap access.