When back pain persists, surgery may be an option. Traditionally, spine surgeries require a large incision that disrupts muscles, ligaments and soft tissue.
However, orthopedic surgeons have a wide range of minimally invasive surgical techniques to help reduce discomfort and recovery time. These include:
Discectomy
During this procedure, your doctor removes the damaged disk from your spine. They may do this in your neck (cervical) or in your lower back (lumbar). You get general anesthesia or a local anesthetic. This means you’ll be asleep during the surgery.
Your surgeon makes a 1- to 2-inch skin incision in your back over the affected disc. They move your overlying muscles to one side for direct access to your spine.
They remove the herniated disk and bone spurs. They may also do spinal fusion. This joins (fuses) two or more vertebrae into one bone. This makes the spine stronger and less likely to move. They may put bone grafts and/or implants where the discs were. This will help prevent movement of the vertebrae that could cause pain. They may also do a laminectomy. This enlarges the small openings (foramina) in the bones of your spine where the nerves exit. This can reduce pressure on your spinal nerves.
Laminectomy
When spinal stenosis or herniated disks compress nerves in the spine, this procedure can relieve symptoms. It removes the back part of a vertebra, called a lamina. Then it enlarges the spinal canal to take pressure off of the spinal nerves and cord.
Your doctor will make an incision in your back over the affected vertebrae. They move the muscles out of the way and use small surgical instruments to remove the lamina. They may also remove the herniated disk or bone spurs that are pressing on nerves.
You will be under general anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain during the surgery. Once your doctor closes the incision, you’ll go home a day or two later. You’ll need to follow your doctor’s instructions for caring for your wound and back. Follow-up appointments are important to check that you’re recovering well. The goal is to have lasting pain relief and improved daily function.
Disc Replacement
During this surgery, your spine surgeon replaces a damaged or herniated lumbar disc. This can help relieve pain, numbness, weakness and other symptoms that may be caused by degeneration or a spinal nerve root being compressed.
While you’re under general anesthesia, your spine surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen. Your spine surgeon will then move your organs and muscles aside to get access to the damaged lumbar disc. The space between the two vertebral bones is made larger and the bottom side of the upper vertebral bone is prepared to accept an artificial lumbar disc. The new disk is inserted, and the incision is closed with hidden absorbable sutures.
Unlike spinal fusion, lumbar disc replacement surgery often restores movement and flexibility in the lower back, and patients are able to return to most of their normal activities, including professional sports. However, as with any type of surgery, there’s a risk for complications and recovery varies from patient to patient.하남재활의학과
Spinal Fusion
During spinal fusion, your surgeon puts bone or a bone-like material into different spaces between two or more vertebrae. The material causes the vertebrae to grow together or fuse over time.하남척추병원 The material might come from another part of your body (autologous), a bone bank or a donor. It may also be made of synthetic materials. Your surgeon uses small metal plates, screws and rods to hold the space and the graft in place.
To get to the spine, your doctor makes an incision either in the back directly over the spine (posterior) or in the front of the body (anterior). We sometimes use minimally invasive techniques for spinal fusion that may allow surgery with smaller incisions and less damage to muscle tissue.
If you have spinal fusion, it can take several months for the bone to heal and reduce or eliminate your pain. You can start walking soon after surgery with the help of physical therapy and a support brace.