A national leader in advancing Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)

At Legacy, our neurosurgeons are adept at the most advanced and minimally invasive procedures for the care of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves. We lead the nation in the development and advancement of computer and image-guided micro spine surgery. The Legacy Spinous Process MIG-LIF procedure was developed by our neurosurgery team and is one of the most advanced and innovative MIS lumbar fusion procedures in the world.

More than half of the spinal surgeries performed at Legacy are outpatient, ambulatory, minimally invasive microsurgery procedures, including spinal decompressions, anterior cervical discectomies and fusions, lumbar micro-discectomies and lumbar fusions. In some cases, remarkable results can be delivered through surgery using an incision as small as one to two inches.

What is MISS?

Any minimally invasive procedure that targets conditions specifically within the spine through the use of small incisions as opposed to traditional open-spine surgery.

“Our MIG-LIF keyhole surgery delivers the absolute minimal amount of disruption to tissue, muscle, ligaments, joints and tendons. This is why infection rates are significantly lower and there is much less down time, blood loss, and post-op pain. Plus, because many patients are able to have this surgery totally outpatient, the cost of care is also greatly reduced.”

SCOTT SCHLESINGER, Neurosurgeon, Developer of the MIG-LIF procedure

For back surgery, bigger is not better

In a traditional open spine surgery, the surgeon makes an incision 3 to 6 inches long and pulls the muscles to the side to get a clear view of the spine. With MISS, the same operative goals are achieved, but in a less invasive way (one inch or less for most MISS).

Less is more with our MIG-LIF procedure

Conceived by Dr. Scott Schlesinger, the MIG-LIF procedure — Midline Image Guided Lumbar Interbody Fusion — is one of the most minimally invasive key hole operations available in the world for lumbar laminectomy and fusion surgery.

Learn more about MIG-LIF by downloading our fact sheets.