Cervical Spine Surgery × Medical Innovation
Clinical Care× Research & Development× International Education× Clinical Implementation
Numb fingertips. Letters that no longer come out right. A foot that catches on every step.
These may be warning signs from your cervical spine.
Cervical spine specialist Wataru Narita provides continuity from diagnosis and treatment selection through postoperative life.
The Center Director performs every operation. After assessing each patient's pathology and general health, the team aims for mobilization from the day after surgery.
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 open-door cervical laminoplasty designed around a 3 cm incision (MS-LAP / MIST-OPERA),
and has experience in approximately 5,000 spine operations over his career.※2
Kameoka Municipal Hospital reports 374 spine surgeries in 2025, including 350 cervical procedures; as Center Director, Dr. Narita was responsible for every case.※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 conference presentations span more than 30 appearances across eight Asian regions, including Japan.
Alongside clinical care and research, he supports public-interest initiatives. In recognition of public-interest contributions through a donation to the Japanese Red Cross Society, he received the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon (Konju Hosho) in July 2025.
FORTEC Co., Ltd., which he represents, was also listed by Kameoka City as a benefactor in 2024 and 2025 for its continuing donations.
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 received the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon in July 2025 for public-interest contributions through a donation to the Japanese Red Cross Society. FORTEC Co., Ltd., which he represents, continues to support Kameoka City and was listed in the city's public information as a benefactor in 2024 and 2025. These initiatives return value created through clinical care to regional medicine, culture, and future generations.
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.
Asian regions where conference presentations have been delivered (30+ total ／ 2023–2026, including Japan)
※ 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 decade-long partnership dedicated to the clinical application of XR in spine surgery since 2016.
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.
Research published in a verifiable form
In the Journal of Clinical Medicine, Dr. Narita and colleagues reported a 2024 preliminary acute-phase comparison of 17 exLAP cases and 11 conventional cases. In 2026 they published a technical report describing seven ExLAPPS cases. Both are explicitly presented as preliminary studies requiring further validation of long-term outcomes and case selection.
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 leads an academic program that includes Digital Spine & AI, endoscopic fixation, regional medicine, and career development.
※ 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.
02.6 ／ Clinical Impact Ecosystem
Clinical needs identified in regional medicine are tested through research, standardized as technology, and passed to the next generation.
Through medical-engineering collaboration and business, those solutions are implemented in society and their value is returned to the community.
Dr. Narita's work connects these stages as one continuous cycle.
Research Portfolio
Source: J-GLOBAL researcher information (synchronized with researchmap; updated June 10, 2026). These are database record counts and do not imply that every item is the same type of peer-reviewed research.
2024 · PEER-REVIEWED
28cases
A technical note and preliminary acute-phase analysis comparing 17 exLAP cases with 11 conventional cases. This was an early clinical evaluation, not evidence of superiority in long-term outcomes.
View the paper on PubMed2026 · TECHNICAL NOTE
7cases
An initial report combining minimally invasive open-door laminoplasty with screw fixation in selected OPLL cases. The report explicitly notes the need for careful case selection and further validation.
Read the full text on PMC2026 · TEXTBOOK
12pages
New OS NEXUS No.18 includes the chapter “Open-Door Cervical Laminoplasty Through a 3 cm Incision,” organizing the procedure from preoperative planning to wound closure as a reproducible workflow.
View bibliographic informationSelected Projects
Separate pathways guide patients, health professionals, educators and researchers, and those interested in business and community impact.
FOR PATIENTS & REFERRERS
A comprehensive guide to symptoms, imaging, procedural options, risks, and affiliated facilities—designed to support calm, informed decisions.
View the patient guide ↗ 02FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
Preoperative planning, a seven-stage technique, papers, procedural texts, and device information in three languages—turning technique into reproducible knowledge.
View technique, devices, and evidence ↗ 03CLINICAL EDUCATION
A record of a three-day, ten-case educational program attended by 40 spine surgeons from across Japan, including Dr. Narita's live OPERA surgery.
Read the seminar report ↗ 04R&D / BUSINESS / CSR
FORTEC connects unmet clinical needs with product development, intellectual property, implementation, and return of value to society.
Explore FORTEC ↗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
※ Sources: researchmap (Wataru Narita) and official society leadership lists. Verified July 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. In a typical MIST-OPERA case, the incision is approximately 3 cm, operating time is 30–40 minutes, and blood loss is approximately 20 g. Depending on the wound, a thin drain may be placed postoperatively. The care team aims for mobilization from the day after surgery.
Casts are not used. A soft cervical collar is worn for about 1 week, but not continuously — you may remove it whenever you feel no pain. 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.
From postoperative day 7 onwards. 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 had lasted nearly ten years. By the day after surgery, it was almost gone. Even waking up in the morning felt remarkably different.
I was walking the next day and discharged after a week. I returned to computer work in two weeks, and after a month I was commuting normally again.
I came for a second opinion. Reviewing the data together made the explanation feel much more convincing than anything I had heard before.
※ Published with each person's consent and edited so that individuals cannot be identified. Outcomes vary, and the same results cannot be 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 from postoperative day 7 onwards — roughly one week or more 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.
