Radiculopathy develops when the nerves along the spine are pinched or compressed. This condition leads to weakness, numbness, or pain in the affected body part associated with the pinched nerve. There are many ways to treat radiculopathy, including medication, physical therapy, and steroid injections.
You may need to go to a spine surgeon who can recommend the best surgical treatment for severe cases. Surgical techniques for radiculopathy usually involve removing the tissue, bone, or disc and compressing the nerves. If you’re suffering from radiculopathy, read on to learn how a spine surgeon can help relieve your condition.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion (ACDF)
Radiculopathy may result from problems in the discs located in between vertebrae. The discs have a soft nucleus that protrudes and hits the spinal canal when the surrounding cartilage tears. Another possible condition may be degenerative disc disease, in which a damaged disc causes pain.
Your doctor may recommend anterior cervical discectomy if this condition affects the neck region because of disc herniation or degeneration. They will remove the damaged disc and replace it with a bone graft or an artificial implant. After that, they will use screws to stabilize the graft between a small plate and the nearby vertebral bones. This process is called fusion.
The graft and vertebrae will heal and fuse into a single bone in about 12 months. You may observe limited movement in between the damaged vertebral bones. However, it is barely noticeable, since the fusion only involves a small area.
Arthroplasty
Your provider can perform arthroplasty or artificial disc replacement in the cervical spine. They can also perform the procedure on the lumbar spine or lower back, depending on the specific area of concern.
The spine surgeon will remove the affected disc, restore standard disc height, and use an artificial disc replacement. The implant may be metal, plastic, or a mix of these materials. Without fusion, arthroplasty won’t result in limited movement. Instead, the vertebrae’s motion is maintained using the artificial disc.
Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy
The foramen is a bony hollow structure through which the spinal cord’s nerve roots pass through. Posterior cervical foraminotomy enlarges the foramen to relieve nerve pinching. The procedure involves staying at the hospital for one to two nights and being under general anesthesia. This operation can be an alternative to ACDF.
Your doctor will first make a small opening at the back of the neck to access the foramen. Then, they will clear the passageway of surrounding muscles and tissues to access the spine. In some cases, your provider may use a retractor. Your surgeon will remove a small amount of the foramen at the spinal canal to give way to the nerve roots. This procedure often leads to long-term pain relief.
Microdiscectomy
Radiculopathy occurring in the lower back is also called sciatica, the inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This is the body’s longest nerve and stretches from the lower back to the feet. Some possible causes of sciatica include herniated disc and spinal stenosis, or the narrowing of the spinal canal.
Microdiscectomy is a procedure to remove a portion of the herniated disc, which releases pressure from the nerve root. It is a minimally invasive procedure with the benefits of less pain, scars, and a faster recovery.
Lumbar Laminectomy
Your surgeon may perform a lumbar laminectomy, or open decompression, to relieve constricted nerves. It’s a procedure where they remove a portion of the lamina, the posterior part of the vertebra. The doctor will create a small incision on the affected disc and then perform the removal. This operation results in a larger spinal canal.
Laser Spine Surgery
Laser spine surgery is another minimally invasive procedure. This operation uses a laser to shrink the affected disc, freeing the spinal cord and nerves from pinching. Providers usually use laser spine surgery to treat degenerative disc disease, sciatica, and herniated disc.
Expert Spine Surgeon in Aurora, CO
There are many different spine surgery procedures available to treat severe cases of radiculopathy. ACDF involves disc replacement and fusion of the adjacent vertebrae to the graft or implant. Disc replacement is also done in arthroplasty but without bone fusion. Posterior cervical foraminotomy involves chipping away a portion of the foramen to eliminate nerve compression. Microdiscectomy removes a portion of the herniated disc. Lumbar laminectomy involves the removal of a part of the lamina. Lastly, laser spine surgery is a cutting-edge procedure that uses a laser to shrink the disc.
Our spine surgeons at the Front Range Spine and Neurosurgery can help relieve pain brought about by radiculopathy. We are proud to offer patient-centered care and services, treating intracranial and spinal conditions across several locations in Colorado. Contact us today at (303) 790-1800 or schedule an appointment using our online form.
