Minimally invasive surgery of the spine does not refer specifically to one surgical procedure, but rather to a range of procedures that encompass the concept of minimally invasive. Minimally invasive surgery can be broadly classified into the following categories based on their basic features: (1) Thermal therapy or internal decompression of punctured discs, such as radiofrequency ablation of herniated lumbar discs with a plasma knife. (2) lumpectomy, such as posterior and lateral lumpectomy of the lumbar spine. (3) Surgery with the aid of a working channel (special pulling hook), such as minimally invasive microscopic removal of the nucleus pulposus of the lumbar intervertebral disc. (4) Minimally invasive internal fixation, such as minimally invasive internal fixation fusion of the lumbar spine. (5) Non-fusion procedures, such as artificial disc replacement and Wallis stabilization device implantation. These techniques can sometimes be used in combination. Minimally invasive surgery has the advantages of less trauma, faster recovery and less pain, but minimally invasive surgery has its own limitations, and there is no such thing as the best minimally invasive surgery. In recent years, the development of minimally invasive surgery has mainly focused on the treatment of lumbar spine lesions, and there has been little development in cervical spine lesions, mainly because the commonly used anterior cervical spine surgery is fully compatible with the basic characteristics of minimally invasive surgery in terms of surgical techniques, with minimal trauma and good results, so it is difficult to have a new technology to replace it. Minimally invasive surgery is only some of the techniques, which does not mean that good results can be obtained using this technique; the overall expertise and technical mastery of the surgeon will have an impact on the outcome. The treatment of spinal disorders differs in many ways from the treatment of some other orthopedic disorders, such as joint disorders. While joint disorders can sometimes be treated with a minimally invasive procedure under the arthroscope first, and then major surgery if it doesn’t work, spinal disorders are best treated with a single shot at finding the cause and using effective methods to deal with it all at once; multiple treatments often lead to poor outcomes and increased risk.