Impact of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Training on Surgeon Practice and Perceptions

Objective: This study aimed to further characterize the relationship between minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) training background, clinical utilization, and procedural techniques, and to assess how these factors influence surgeons’ perceptions of MISS outcomes relative to open surgery.Methods: An online survey was distributed via social media and email to members of AO Spine and AANS (American Association of Neurological Surgeons) who identified “spine” as a subspecialty. Eligible surgeons completed questions regarding their clinical practice patterns and perceptions of MISS, with a focus on procedures performed in the lumbosacral (L1–S1) region. Responses from neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons were compared using the Fisher exact test. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression models were then applied to examine associations between surgeon characteristics and perceptions of procedural time, complication rates, and postoperative outcomes.Results: Among 131 respondents, 103 were neurosurgeons and 28 were orthopedic surgeons. Neurosurgeons reported greater experience with MISS and utilized a broader range of MISS techniques than orthopedic surgeons (p