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Surgery
Treatment of the spine begins with a thorough familiarization of our patients and their medical problems, values, lifestyles, spiritual beliefs, and treatment wishes. Most back problems can be treated with non-surgical conventional methods. In the event that surgery is inevitable, some of the following procedures may be considered:
Decompression Surgeries
Decompressive procedures are done when patients suffer from nerve or spinal cord compressions. Compressions usually are caused by disc herniations, bone spurs due to a degenerative process, tumors, infections and traumatic fractures. Symptoms usually include but are not limited to shooting pain in an extremity, numbness, tingling, weakness or paralysis. Sometimes bowel and bladder control may be dysfunctional. A multitude of different procedures, some minimally invasive, can be provided to resolve problems. Microdiscectomy is a frequently used, minimally invasive procedure to free a nerve root from a herniated disc.
You may be a surgical candidate if you have the following findings:
• Radiating pain in one or multiple extremities
• Muscle spasms and pain (neck and back) resistant to conservative* treatment
• Diagnosed nerve or spinal cord compression i.e. MRI, CT, Myelogram
• Positive EMG/NCS
• Arm, shoulder or leg pain without back or neck pain
• Persistent numbness and tingling
• Radicular symptoms resistant to prolonged conservative* care
Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery
A procedure that preserves and restores motion in a patient with painful degenerative disc disease. The operation consists of complete surgical removal of the problematic disc and replacing it with a mechanical component, thereby preserving motion at this level. This orthopaedic procedure may be considered similar to joint replacement surgery.
You may be a surgical candidate if you have the following findings:
• Severe lower back pain
• Internal disc disruption
• Painful degenerative disc disease
• Failure with non-surgical conservative* treatments
Spinal Fusion Surgeries
Orthopaedic procedures to stop motion in a joint. Fusions involving the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine involve the prevention of segmental motion by creating a biological bone bridge between vertebrae. Minimally invasive procedures as well as extensive, multilevel anterior (front) and posterior (back) fusions are available. These procedures involve the removal of pathologic discs, replacing these with allograft/autograft bone spacers. Internal fixation with surgical grade hardware allows patients earlier mobility and a shorter hospitalization.
You may be a surgical candidate if you have the following findings:
• Severe back / neck pain not responsive to conservative* treatment
• Spinal instability
• Advanced painful degeneration of the spine
• Failed prior back surgery
• Severe pain after a prior disc decompression surgery
• Traumatic spine injury
• Spinal deformity i.e. scoliosis, spondylolithsesis
Vertebroplasty / Kyphoplasty
A surgical procedure that stabilizes compression fractures. These procedures are percutaneous, minimally invasive , and can be performed on an outpatient basis. Treatment is aimed at painful pathologic vertebral body compression fractures resistant to healing. These fractures are stabilized by injecting a void-filling substance that hardens inside the vertebral body, thus providing new stability across the weight bearing region.
You may be a surgical candidate if you have the following findings:
• Resistant back pain
• Compression fracture diagnosis i.e. X-ray, MRI, CT scan.
• Osteoporosis or other known pathology
• History of a previous compression fracture
For a consultation, further information, or educational purposes, please contact the office.
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