Visiting your spine doctor to check out your back pain is essential to getting relief. Since your healthcare provider aims to give you the best care, they will use their expertise to help you with your medical concerns.
Non-invasive treatments are the first-line interventions to be recommended for back problems. When these treatments don’t work anymore, you may need surgery. Read on to find out the five most common spine surgeries that your doctor may recommend.
What Is Spine Surgery?
Spine surgeries help with bone- or nerve-related diseases in your spine, repair broken bones due to injury, and other spine-related medical conditions. Surgery is typically a last resort used only when conservative interventions don’t improve your condition.
There are different surgical techniques for different back problems. Ultimately, your doctor will decide on the treatment plan based on the diagnosis of your condition.
Lumbar Fusion
Lumbar fusion connects two or more of your lower back vertebrae permanently.
Your doctor will take small pieces of healthy bone from other parts of your body, typically your pelvis, and insert them between two problematic spinal vertebrae. These bone grafts cause the vertebrae to heal together, turning them into one bone and reducing pain. The bone grafts will be held in place by metal plates, screws, and rods as you heal.
Lumbar fusion is usually done to help conditions such as:
Spinal Deformities
Patients with scoliosis and kyphosis usually undergo spinal fusion. The fusion helps with the curvature of the spine.
Spinal Weakness or Instability
Due to wear and tear, the surrounding cartilage in your bones weaken and degrade. Spinal fusion may help restore spine stability and prevent further degeneration.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc causes swelling and inflammation of the soft part of the covering of your spine. This also causes pain and compression in the spine and requires immediate attention to prevent further damage. After the removal of the herniated disc, a patient will typically require lumbar fusion. Doing so helps with the stability and recovery of the patient.
Discectomy
This is a surgical procedure done to remove the damaged portion of a herniated disc. Discectomies usually require general anesthesia. Furthermore, it requires the patient to lay face-down. There are different types of discectomy a spinal surgeon can perform, mainly:
Open Discectomy
This procedure involves making a large incision in the back for the surgeon to see the whole spine and repair the affected disc.
Microdiscectomy
Most surgeons favor microdiscectomies over open discectomies as they’re quicker and simpler to perform. A spinal surgeon will only use small incisions and remove the herniated disc through the comparatively smaller incision. This procedure typically has a shorter recovery time.
Artificial Disc Replacement
Artificial disc replacement is also called lumbar disc replacement. This procedure involves using a metal or medical-grade plastic to replace a worn-out disc, which generally improves lower back pain and improves mobility.
An artificial disc replacement requires a shorter hospital stay. Usually, patients can return to their normal activities two to three weeks after the procedure.
Laminectomy
A laminectomy is a procedure involving the removal of the lamina — the part of the bone that provides the arch of the vertebra. Doing so relieves the pressure in the spinal cord and nerves. As it enlarges the spinal canal, the procedure also alleviates pain.
A laminectomy can help patients with bone spurs. Bone spurs are outward bone growths that cause inflammation and arthritis. The formation of these bone spurs is typically associated with age. This procedure is only for pain relief and will not treat problems like arthritis.
Vertebroplasty
Patients with cracked or broken vertebrae caused by injuries or osteoporosis may benefit from vertebroplasty. In this procedure, a special cement is injected into the damaged area. Once the cement hardens, it stabilizes the fracture and supports the spine.
Spine Surgery in Aurora, CO
Spine problems can limit your mobility and affect your daily life. Fortunately, there are several surgical options to treat your back problems. If you’re experiencing persistent or debilitating back pain, it’s always helpful to consult a back doctor for proper treatment and diagnosis.
If you need spine surgery in Aurora, CO, look no further than Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery. Our team is ready to provide you with top-notch healthcare for all your neurological concerns. You can be assured of exceptional care from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation.
You may reach our friendly staff at (303) 790-1800 to learn more about our services. You may also use our online appointment request form if you want to schedule a consultation. We look forward to serving you!
