Cervical Spine Specialty Clinic ／ Spine Center, Kameoka Municipal Hospital
Numb fingertips. Letters that no longer come out right. A foot that catches on every step.
— These are not "all in your head."
An incision of just 3 cm. A procedure of 30–40 minutes.
Blood loss around 10 cc, walking the ward by the next day.
Dr. Wataru Narita, a spine surgeon performing 350 cervical surgeries per year as sole operator,※1
meets your nerves — and the next ten years of your life — head-on.
01 ／ Symptoms
The cervical spine is the corridor through which the brain communicates with your arms and legs.
When the following signs persist, the nerves running through that corridor may be under pressure.
Numbness in the thumb–middle finger or in the small-finger side. Difficulty writing, fastening buttons, or using chopsticks.
A sharp, one-sided arm pain that strikes even at rest. A persistent heaviness around the shoulder blade.
Feet getting tangled, catching on small steps, an inability to walk far. More frequent falls.
Trouble operating a smartphone, dropping pens, fingers that feel awkward and clumsy.
Over six months or a year, the list of things you can no longer do keeps growing.
— but you cannot bring yourself to commit. You want a second opinion from another specialist.
※ Not every symptom originates in the cervical spine. A correct diagnosis requires both MRI imaging and a detailed specialist examination.
02 ／ Doctor
Director, Spine Center, Kameoka Municipal Hospital ／ Senior Instructor in Spine and Spinal Cord Surgery
After graduating from Jichi Medical University in 2003, Dr. Narita trained in spine surgery at regional hospitals across northern Kyoto, serving at Kyotango Municipal Kumihama Hospital, Kyoto Chubu Medical Center, and as Director of the Spine and Spinal Cord Center at Midorigaoka Hospital.
He earned his M.D., Ph.D. from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Graduate School in 2017, and in
2018 founded the Spine Center at Kameoka Municipal Hospital, becoming the referral hub for patients across Kyoto, Hokusetsu, and the Tamba region.
His clinical focus is Minimally Invasive Spine Therapy (MIST), centered on cervical spine surgery.
He has systematized an open-door cervical laminoplasty performed through a 3 cm incision in 30 minutes (MS-LAP / MIST-OPERA),
with 5,000+ career spine cases※2 and 350 cervical surgeries per year as sole operator.※1
In 2026, his technique was published as a chapter in
"New OS NEXUS No.18" (Medical View Co., Ltd.), edited by faculty from Nagoya University, Kyoto University, and Shiga University of Medical Science.
Since 2016, Dr. Narita has served as advisor and evangelist to Holoeyes Inc., leading clinical implementation of XR (VR/AR/MR), metaverse, and AI-based spine-surgery support technologies.
His recent international presentations cover intraoperative navigation with the Apple Vision Pro, exoscope-assisted minimally invasive cervical laminoplasty, and remote surgical mentoring through the Holoeyes MD metaverse.
His international invited lectures span 7 countries with 30+ presentations.
In recognition of these contributions he received the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon (Konju Hosho) in July 2025 and the Kameoka City Meritorious Service Award in two consecutive years (2024 and 2025).
He will serve as President of the 16th Annual Meeting of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Therapy (MIST 2026 / Spine Week Japan 2026).
The day you come in is not necessarily the day of surgery.
Start by understanding where your cervical spine actually stands. That is enough for the first visit.
Awards & Recognition
Dr. Narita's contribution to regional medicine and his decades of dedication to spine surgery have been formally recognized by the State (Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon) and his hometown, Kameoka City (Meritorious Service Award). The Kameoka City award was conferred in two consecutive years, 2024 and 2025.
02.5 ／ Research & Global Reach
The 3 cm minimally invasive technique, performed in 30–40 minutes, has been invited to major societies across the Asia-Pacific
and codified as a textbook chapter.
Dr. Narita is committed to sharing and continually validating this technique beyond the walls of his own hospital.
Countries where invited international presentations have been delivered (30+ total ／ 2023–2026)
※ International talks 2023–2026: 2 special invited lectures, 19 symposium presentations, and 9 general presentations (30+ total).
Venues include ICCL / ISASS AP / SMISS AP / ThaiSMISST / APSS-APPOS-MSS / KOMISS / PASMISS / ISMISS.
Textbook Chapter
MIST-OPERA, the proprietary cervical technique, has been codified as a procedural manual. In a definitive textbook on spine-surgery technology supervised by editors from Nagoya University, Kyoto University, and Shiga University of Medical Science, it is presented as a procedure trainees "should experience" during residency.
Major Invited Talks 2025–2026
Future Perspectives & Clinical Challenges of XR Spine Surgery with Apple Vision Pro
30-Minute Cervical Laminoplasty Through a 3 cm Incision: A Minimally Invasive Approach
Evolving Minimally Invasive Techniques in Cervical Myelopathy: 3cm Incision Open Door Laminoplasty
Minimally Invasive Cervical Laminoplasty (MS-LAP): 3 cm Incision, 30-Minute Procedure Achieving Decompression from C2 to C7
Holoeyes Advisor (since 2016)
Advisor and Evangelist to Holoeyes Inc. Dr. Narita has presented internationally on intraoperative navigation with Apple Vision Pro and on remote surgical mentoring and medical education through the Holoeyes MD metaverse. A pioneer of clinical XR adoption in Japanese spine surgery through a decade-long partnership.
MHLW Training Lecturer (2024, 2025)
Dr. Narita served as a lecturer for the Multidisciplinary Pain Center Training Seminar under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Chronic Pain Care System Equalization Project," two years in a row. 2024 in Tokyo, 2025 in Okayama.
5+ Peer-reviewed Papers and Reviews
Original articles in international journals including Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine (JNS Spine). Numerous review articles on XR / metaverse / AI / MIST in Japanese journals such as the Journal of Spine Research, Seikeigeka (Orthopedic Surgery), and Innervision. In 2026, Dr. Narita contributed a lecture transcript to the proceedings of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's "Chronic Pain Care System Equalization Project".
MIST 2026 Annual Meeting President
As President of the 16th Annual Meeting of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Therapy (2026 / Spine Week Japan 2026), Dr. Narita is leading one of Japan's largest MIST societies and strengthening the Asia-Pacific spine-surgery network.
※ Research and lecture activities are published as part of Dr. Narita's commitment to sharing the evidence behind clinical practice with society at large. Decisions about each patient's consultation and treatment plan are made on the basis of an individualized examination.
02.7 ／ Society Roles
A spine surgeon's duty extends beyond the operating room — sharing and validating technique and research with peers across Japan and the Asia-Pacific.
Dr. Wataru Narita serves on the leadership of the following societies and organizations.
2026
President, 16th Annual Meeting of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Therapy
MIST Society ／ Spine Week Japan 2026
Director
Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Therapy (MIST)
Director ／ Councilor
Director
ISASS Asia-Pacific Section
International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, Asia-Pacific Section
Steering
Japan Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (JASMISS)
Steering Committee Member
PR Chair
Japanese Society for Spinal Instrumentation
Public Relations Chair ／ Education Committee Member ／ Councilor
Rep.
Japan Council on Cervical Laminoplasty
Representative Coordinator
Coord.
Japanese Society of Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery
Coordinator (Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery)
2016–
Holoeyes Inc., Advisor
XR ／ Metaverse ／ Apple Vision Pro for Spine Surgery
Instructor
Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research
Senior Instructor (Board-Certified Specialist in Spine and Spinal Cord Surgery)
Specialist
Japanese Orthopaedic Association
Board-Certified Specialist in Orthopaedic Surgery
※ Source: researchmap (researchmap.jp/wnari) ／ Roles current as of January 2026.
Signature Instrument
Burring cervical bone is precision work performed only millimeters from the spinal cord.
Off-the-shelf drills never fully satisfied the balance Dr. Narita demanded between safety margin and cutting efficiency.
He commissioned Nihon Medical Order (Niigata), a precision medical-instrument manufacturer,
to design a diamond drill dedicated to posterior cervical decompression from the ground up.
Every dimension — head diameter, cutting profile, shaft length —
is custom-built to match his MIST-OPERA technique.
Don't fit the technique to the tool — build the tool to the technique.— Wataru Narita
That single decision shortened the surgery by an hour and brought us the shortest path that still protects the nerve.
03 ／ Technique
A posterior approach that pinpoints and releases the compression on the spinal cord.
A 3 cm incision, a surgical microscope, and a 3.2 mm high-speed drill.
Every detail is designed to spare muscle and surrounding tissue.
Conventional
Broad exposure of the entire posterior cervical spine.
Wide muscular dissection.
10–15cm incision
MIST-OPERA
Pinpoint fenestration at the single offending segment.
Muscles and spinous processes preserved.
~3cm incision
Principle
The skin incision is just 3 cm. By varying drill angle through that single entry,
the working area expands at depth to span the full lamina (both lateral facets and the base of the spinous process).
"A small entry, a wide working zone" — this is the geometry of MIST-OPERA.
Expanding the working zone
What appears as a point-like opening at the skin becomes a surface that fully covers the lamina at bone level. A proprietary geometric design that works only when the muscles are not cut and the angle of approach is varied instead.
01 ／ Entry
Skin marking
After prep and drape, the exact intervertebral level is identified by palpation. Two finger-widths — that is the entire entry.
02 ／ Work
Surgical field, drilling
A custom diamond drill is introduced into the narrow tubular field, gradually thinning the lamina.
03 ／ Release
Lifting the lamina
The burred lamina is fixed in the open position with a dedicated plate, giving the previously compressed spinal cord room to breathe.
Conventional
MIST-OPERA
※ Indications vary by disease and clinical condition. Where MIST-OPERA is not appropriate, we select the optimal alternative — anterior decompression and fusion, posterior decompression, artificial disc replacement, or others.
04 ／ Flow
To remove the anxiety of "going to the hospital not knowing what to expect,"
the entire flow from first visit to recovery is laid out chronologically.
An MRI from your local orthopedic clinic makes the first visit smoother (it is not required). A referral letter is not necessary; please bring your imaging data on CD/DVD if available.
Dr. Narita carefully reviews your symptoms and history, and assesses dexterity, grip strength, reflexes, and gait. Additional MRI/CT will be ordered when indicated. By the end of the visit, we discuss whether surgery is needed, which technique, and a likely surgical date.
We review all current medications, particularly any blood thinners. Work and family schedules are coordinated. For patients with chronic conditions, we contact the primary physician.
Admission is the day before surgery. For MIST-OPERA: 3 cm incision, 30–40 minutes, ~10 cc blood loss. A thin drain is left in place for 24 hours postoperatively. Most patients walk independently around the ward by the next day.
Casts and collars are generally not used. Patients eat, use the bathroom, and bathe on their own. We do not prescribe special physical therapy — "returning to ordinary life" is itself the best rehabilitation.
Roughly 7 days after surgery on average. We provide medications, the next outpatient appointment, and detailed lifestyle guidance. For patients living far away, follow-up can be coordinated with a local physician.
| Bathing / showering | Immediately after discharge |
|---|---|
| Driving | About 2 weeks after discharge |
| Desk work | 2–3 weeks postoperatively |
| Standing work / light tasks | From 1 month postoperatively |
| Heavy work / manual labor | 2–3 months postoperatively |
| Sports | 1–3 months postoperatively |
Standard outpatient visits are at 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively. Numbness typically improves gradually over the first 3–6 months rather than disappearing all at once.
For 1–2 weeks after discharge, please watch over the patient gently and avoid pushing them. When you notice the small wins (chopsticks easier to hold, walking lighter), say so out loud. Verbal recognition becomes a powerful support during recovery.
A consultation is not a commitment to surgery. Start by understanding "where my cervical spine is right now," through MRI and a specialist examination. That is more than enough as a first step. Let us widen the menu of options together.
05 ／ Voices
The numbness in my left hand that had haunted me for nearly ten years was almost completely gone the day after surgery. Waking up in the morning felt unbelievably different.
I was walking the next day, discharged after a week, back at my computer in two weeks, and commuting to the office a month later as if nothing had happened.
I went for a second opinion. The clarity of the explanation while looking at the data was on a different level from anything I had heard before.
※ All testimonials are published with the patient's consent and edited so that no individual can be identified. Outcomes vary between individuals; identical results are not guaranteed for every patient.
06 ／ FAQ
Persistent one-sided arm or hand numbness or pain, difficulty with fine finger motions, unsteadiness when walking, or stumbling on small steps — particularly when these symptoms have continued for two to three months or more.
No. A consultation is not a commitment to surgery. After examination and imaging, we determine "where you stand right now," and decide together whether to observe, continue conservative care, or proceed with surgery.
A referral letter is not required. An MRI from your local orthopedic clinic helps us move discussions forward in the same visit, but we can perform the necessary imaging on the day if you have not had one.
For MIST-OPERA, admission the day before, surgery the next day, discharge around postoperative day 7 — roughly one week in total. Other techniques such as anterior decompression and fusion may differ.
As a general guide: desk work in 2–3 weeks, standing work or light tasks from 1 month onward, driving from about 2 weeks after discharge. We adjust the timing for each patient's situation.
Absolutely. Please bring your imaging data (CD/DVD) and any documentation of your course to date if possible. We do not contradict the plan from another hospital — instead, we treat the visit as a way to broaden your decision-making material with a different specialist's perspective.
Patients come from all over Japan. Postoperative follow-up can also be coordinated with a physician closer to home, so please do not give up the consultation simply because of distance.
Numbness typically improves gradually over 3–6 months postoperatively, with individual variation. The longer the duration of disease before surgery, the higher the chance of residual numbness. We provide a realistic forecast at the preoperative consultation.
07 ／ Contact
Whether or not surgery is needed cannot be answered without an examination.
"I'm afraid it might mean surgery." "Maybe I'm not at that stage yet." — Precisely at that moment,
it is worth confirming where you stand with an MRI and a specialist consultation.
※ For inquiries outside of clinic hours, please refer to the official hospital website in advance.