Fundamentals of minimally invasive spine surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is a set of techniques and procedures that aims to minimize local tissue damage while achieving the same goals of traditional open surgery. In this article, we will provide a brief synopsis of the current state of MISS including its advantages over open surgery and its limitations. We will also describe basic techniques and essential tools needed to perform MISS effectively. As such, we have identified six interrelated fundamental principles to achieve success in MISS. They are the six Ts: Target, Technology, Technique, Training/Teaching, Testing, and Talent.