Spine Surgery

Spine surgery is recommended for individuals who have a problem with one or more disk in the spine (vertebrae).

Indications for Spine surgery

• Individuals with persistent and disabling pain
• Cases where the exact source of pain can be determined such as a herniated disc, scoliosis, or spinal stenosis
• Cases where conservative management such as physical therapy, pain medication, or bracing fails to provide any relief
• Osteoarthritis with bone spurs (over grown bone) on spine
• Symptoms are caused by compressed nerves in spine

Types of Spine surgeries

• Diskectomy: It is the surgery to remove all or part of the herniated disk.
• Foraminotomy: It is the surgical procedure that is done to widen the opening in back where nerve roots leave spinal column.
• Laminectomy: Surgical procedure that involves removal of the lamina or bone spurs in the spine. Surgery aims to release the pressure off spinal nerves or spinal column.
• Laminotomy: The procedure that involves removal of a portion of the vertebral arch (lamina) that covers the spinal cord.
• Spinal fusion: The procedure in which two or more bones are fused together in back to correct problems in spine. It relieves pain by adding stability to a spinal fracture.
• Kyphoplasty: The procedure performed to ease the pain caused by spinal fracture.
• Spinal Disc replacement: The surgical procedure that treats specific type of back pain by replacing injured disc with an artificial one.
• Minimally invasive back surgery: A procedure performed through small incisions to treat spinal disorders.

Post-surgical benefits of Spine surgery

• Relieves irritation and inflammation of a nerve
• Relieves nerve pressure
• Relieves pain
• Eliminates painful motion between vertebrae
• Improves mobility

Authored by Dr. Shyam Sundar K