Chicago Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Robert James Fink of Gold Coast Orthopaedic Spine and Hand Surgery is one of only three Surgeon?s throughout the Chicagoland area that specializes in Minimally Invasive Spine surgery, for herniated discs & lumbar spine procedures. Herniated disks are removed in an outpatient surgical setting through a one centimeter or smaller incision, requiring only a band aid or one stitch. Patients can walk immediately after the procedure is completed, this is in contrast to being hospitalized and having a substantially large cuts. There is NO destabilization of your spine by detaching spine muscles with a cuts. Gold Coast Orthopaedic Spine and Hand Surgery also specializes in minimal incision surgery on the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand , hip, knee, ankle and foot. Many procedures on these parts of the body are done arthroscopically with a small puncture wound requiring a few stitches or band aid afterward. Again most of these surgeries are done at an outpatient center.