Spine Surgery

What is Spine Surgery?

The spine gives our body stability and strength every time we move around. Plus, the spinal vertebrae (bones) also serve as a protection for our spinal cord. Thus, any problems in our spine must be addressed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon. Minimally invasive methods will be attempted first to address your pain or debilitating back issues, such as pain injections. If these do not solve the problem, then your orthopedist may perform minimally invasive spine surgery.

There are three different types of spine surgery:

Decompression: Bone or other tissue is removed to take pressure off a nerve of the spinal cord.
Stabilization or Fusion: Bone grafts or metal rods and screws are used to fuse vertebrae together, making a strong bridge across a spinal segment.
Corrective Procedures: Spinal fusion and other techniques are used to straighten deformities.

TOP 3 REASONS TO HAVE SPINAL SURGERY

TO TAKE PRESSURE OFF OF NERVES : Some conditions, including a disc herniation or spinal stenosis, compress the nerves within the spinal column which can lead to pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and other more severe symptoms. Spinal surgery is typically required with this condition to avoid permanent impairment.
TO STABILIZE AN UNSTABLE SPINE An unstable spine is defined as the inability of the spinal column to maintain its natural form under normal usage conditions. A healthy spine provides structure, protection, and support for the body, but an unstable spine can no longer hold together the spinal ligaments, muscles, disc and bones in such as way as to provide these essential functions. We see unstable spines in a lot of conditions including spinal fractures, spondylolisthesis, and even sometimes an extreme disc injury. Surgery is often required if symptoms progress to intractable back pain, leg pain, or significant neurologic problems from a pinched nerve.
TO REALIGN A CROOKED SPINE Some conditions, including scoliosis, kyphosis, and flat-back syndrome, affect the natural curvature of the spine and result in various impairments. Scoliosis and kyphosis are typically managed non-operatively through bracing and physical therapy, but in instances in which the spinal curvature exceeds a certain degree, surgical intervention is required to realign the spine. The same is true for flat-back syndrome if symptoms are not relieved through non-operative measures.