Medically reviewed by Dr. Scheid
When chronic back pain disrupts your daily routine and conservative treatments are not providing relief, minimally invasive spine surgery offers a path forward with less disruption to your life. These advanced surgical techniques use smaller incisions, specialized instruments, and precision imaging guidance to address spine conditions while minimizing tissue damage and recovery time. For residents throughout Burlington County and surrounding areas, minimally invasive spine surgery reduces recovery time by weeks compared to traditional open procedures, making it a preferred approach for patients who want to return to their normal routines faster.
NeuroSpine Plus brings decades of surgical experience to Mount Laurel, offering comprehensive spine care led by Dr. Edward Scheid. With over 8,000 successful surgeries performed and 20+ years of neurosurgical experience, Dr. Scheid and our team perform a full range of minimally invasive procedures designed to help patients return to their normal activities faster than traditional open surgery.
How Does Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Work?
Minimally invasive spine surgery uses incisions typically less than one inch long, specialized tubular retractors, and real-time imaging to access the spine through natural muscle planes without cutting through surrounding tissue. Unlike traditional open surgery that requires 5-to-6-inch incisions and significant muscle retraction, minimally invasive techniques displace rather than sever muscle fibers. This tissue-sparing approach directly reduces postoperative pain and accelerates healing.
Surgeons use fluoroscopic X-ray guidance and surgical microscopes throughout the procedure for continuous visualization. According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, these techniques can address a wide range of spine conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, and vertebral compression fractures. The reduced tissue disruption translates to less postoperative pain, smaller scars, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times.
Procedures We Perform in Mount Laurel
At NeuroSpine Plus, we offer a comprehensive range of minimally invasive procedures tailored to each patient’s specific spine condition. Our treatment approach begins with thorough evaluation and conservative management when appropriate, progressing to surgical intervention only when necessary to restore function and relieve pain.
Laminectomy
Laminectomy addresses spinal stenosis by removing the lamina to create more space for the spinal cord and nerves. This procedure relieves pressure that causes leg pain, numbness, and difficulty walking. When performed using minimally invasive techniques, laminectomy typically requires a short hospital stay and allows most patients to return to light activities within 2 to 4 weeks.
Discectomy and Microdiscectomy
Microdiscectomy removes herniated or damaged disc material pressing on spinal nerves, causing radiating pain, weakness, or numbness in the arms or legs. Through a small incision and specialized instruments, surgeons access and remove the problematic disc tissue while preserving surrounding structures. Many patients experience immediate relief from nerve compression symptoms following this procedure.
Artificial Disc Replacement
Artificial disc replacement offers an alternative to fusion for certain patients with disc degeneration. This procedure replaces a damaged disc with a prosthetic device that maintains motion at that spinal segment, reducing stress on adjacent spinal levels and potentially lowering the risk of developing problems at neighboring discs over time.
Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion stabilizes affected vertebral segments by joining two or more vertebrae together using bone grafts and instrumentation. Minimally invasive fusion techniques, including TLIF and LLIF, achieve the same structural stability as traditional approaches through smaller incisions. Recovery from minimally invasive fusion typically takes 6 to 12 weeks before patients return to full activity.
ACDF
For patients experiencing neck pain and arm symptoms due to cervical disc problems, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) removes the damaged disc and stabilizes the cervical spine. This procedure is performed through a small incision in the front of the neck and has high success rates for relieving nerve compression symptoms in the upper extremities.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Patients who undergo minimally invasive spine surgery typically experience 50% less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and significantly reduced postoperative pain compared to traditional open procedures. Smaller incisions mean less disruption to the muscles and soft tissues supporting the spine, which directly impacts recovery.
| Factor | Minimally Invasive | Traditional Open |
|---|---|---|
| Incision size | Less than 1 inch | 5 to 6 inches |
| Hospital stay | Same day or 1 night | 2 to 4 days |
| Return to desk work | 1 to 2 weeks | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Muscle damage | Minimal (tissue displaced) | Significant (tissue cut) |
| Infection risk | Lower | Higher |
Real-time imaging guidance allows surgeons to navigate directly to the problem area with minimal tissue disruption. This targeted approach reduces the risk of damage to surrounding healthy structures and produces more predictable results. Recovery timelines vary by procedure, but many patients return to desk work within 1 to 2 weeks and gradually resume more demanding activities over the following months.
Why Choose NeuroSpine Plus in Mount Laurel
Choosing where to have spine surgery involves more than selecting a surgeon. It requires finding a practice that prioritizes your individual needs throughout the entire treatment process. At NeuroSpine Plus, we emphasize thorough evaluation before recommending surgery, ensuring conservative options have been appropriately explored and that surgical intervention addresses the specific source of your symptoms.
Dr. Scheid’s experience with both straightforward and complex spine cases means you benefit from surgical precision refined over 8,000+ procedures and more than 20 years in practice. His focus on minimally invasive techniques whenever appropriate reflects a commitment to achieving optimal outcomes while minimizing impact on your body and recovery time. Our practice also offers flexible insurance and financing options and second opinions for patients who want to explore treatment options before making decisions about spine surgery.
Our Mount Laurel location at 16000 Commerce Pkwy, Suite B-1 provides convenient access for patients throughout Burlington County, Camden County, and surrounding areas. We also serve patients from our offices in Paramus, Edison, Jersey City, North Bergen, and Hamilton. For patients facing transportation or mobility challenges, we offer telemedicine services to ensure you can access care from wherever you are.
Taking the Next Step
Living with chronic back pain or nerve symptoms affects every aspect of your daily life, from work responsibilities to family activities. When conservative treatments haven’t provided adequate relief, minimally invasive spine surgery may offer the solution you need to reclaim your quality of life. The decision to pursue surgery deserves careful consideration and discussion with an experienced spine surgeon who can evaluate your specific condition and recommend the most appropriate treatment approach.
Contact NeuroSpine Plus today to schedule a consultation at our Mount Laurel location. Dr. Scheid and our team will thoroughly evaluate your spine condition, discuss your symptoms and treatment goals, and work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Scheid & The Team at NeuroSpine Plus
Last updated: May 6, 2026The team at NeuroSpine Plus is led by Dr. Edward Scheid, a board-certified neurosurgeon with over 20 years of experience and 8,000+ successful surgeries. Along with his dedicated team of physician assistants and medical professionals, NeuroSpine Plus specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery and comprehensive spine care across six convenient locations in New Jersey. Our clinical expertise in treating complex spine conditions ensures all content is medically accurate and based on proven treatment approaches we use daily in our practice.