LESS Philosophy
Our Why
Traditional spine surgery followed a path similar to cardiothoracic surgery—treating advanced disease with reconstructive techniques that often carry high risks, significant costs, and irreversible damage to anatomy. Over time, minimally invasive surgery has evolved to address some of these drawbacks.
We chose a different approach—inspired by interventional cardiology and dentistry—where early intervention is key to preventing disease progression and avoiding complex reconstructive procedures. This approach led us to develop our LESS™ Philosophy.
Our LESS™ Philosophy REP three core tenets:
01
Restore Function
We restore the spine’s natural alignment and biomechanics to help patients regain mobility and functionality. Our technologies are designed to promote healing while preserving natural movement.
02
Early Intervention
We identify and treat spinal conditions early to help patients avoid invasive surgeries and long recovery periods. By addressing issues sooner, we improve outcomes and enable faster recovery.
03
Preserve Anatomy
We prioritize preserving healthy tissue and structures by minimizing disruption to the surrounding anatomy. This reduces complications and supports long-term spinal health.
LESS™ Exposure Advanced Spine Techniques & Technologies (LEAST™)
To bring the LESS™ philosophy to life, we developed LESS™ Exposure Advanced Spine Techniques and Technologies (LEAST™) - a platform that enables us to achieve our REP tenets and vision of becoming the global leader In outpatient spine surgery technologies.
LEAST™ delivers procedures that are:
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LESS risky
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LESS difficult
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LESS blood loss
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LESS time in surgery
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LESS recovery time
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LESS damage to soft tissues
Through LESS™ and LEAST™, we are redefining spine surgery by making it safer, simpler, and more accessible—helping patients worldwide return to their lives faster and with better outcomes.
THE STORY BEHIND
LESS Exposure Spine Surgery (LESS™)
The inception of the Less Exposure Spine Surgery (LESS™) philosophy in 2008 by Professor Dr. Kingsley R Chin, marked a pivotal shift in the approach to spine surgery. This innovation was built on the realization that, while minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques, such as the use of his MANTIS MIS percutaneous pedicle screws he sold to Stryker MIS, offered reduced incision sizes, they also came with their own set of challenges. These included the potential for pedicle breaches, disruption of the adjacent normal facet complex leading to adjacent segment breakdown, and irritation caused by the bulkiness of screws beneath the multifidus muscles. Driven by the desire to overcome these limitations, Dr. Chin researched historical methodologies of spine fixation. He discovered earlier techniques, such as Dr. King's 1948 description of facet fixation using screws, Dr. Magerl's translaminar facet fixation method in 1984, and the Bouchard transfacet pedicular technique in 1959. These methods reported high fusion and clinical success rates greater than 90%, inspiring him to develop and patent FacetFuse™, a new direction in transfacet pedicle screw development, followed by InSpan, a screwless midline interspinous fusion technology, and a multitude of other patented modern innovations in less exposure spine surgery technologies. LESS™ emerged as a significant advancement over traditional MIS, focusing on reducing the collateral damage associated with surgery. Traditional MIS aimed to mimic the outcomes of open surgery with less invasive techniques but often resulted in unintended tissue damage and required additional radiation, whose effects could be cumulative over time. In contrast, LESS™ procedures prioritize a tailored approach, adapting to the patient's individual needs, health status, and body type. Performed in an outpatient setting, this approach aims to minimize risks and streamline the surgical process. By focusing on reducing pain, blood loss, and recovery time, LESS™ represents a more patient-centered and efficient method of spine surgery, embodying the next step in the surgical care continuum. This evolution reflects a broader move towards procedures that are not only less invasive but also more attuned to the overall well-being and specific conditions of each patient, leading to safer and more effective outcomes in spine care.
