SPINAL SURGERIES – A BASIC GUIDE

Introduction

Indefinite lesions within a spine can cause extreme pain and disability in an individual. When such lesions cannot be treated using non surgical options, advanced spinal surgeries are performed to alleviate pain and enhance functional abilities.

The New Jersey spinal centers have some of the best, experienced surgeons in the field who use modern techniques to surgically treat spinal disabilities.

Why would I need a spinal surgery?

Your surgeon at the New Jersey spinal center will perform a spinal surgery, to basically accomplish the following major tasks:

• Stabilize any part of the spine that is either painful or unstable.
• Decompress a damaged nerve root and thus relive any pain and numbness.
• Minimize any damage or disfiguration of the spine which may be accidentally or congenitally caused.

How do I know if I am a candidate for spinal surgery?

Your surgeon may recommend a spinal surgery under one or more of the following circumstances:

• Non surgical treatments do not produce any reduction in pain after many months of practice.
• Loss of neurological functions.
• Pain stops you from performing daily activities.
• Sudden bladder or bowel incontinence.
• Pain is not treatable using narcotic medication.

Minimally invasive surgery, spinal fusion, laminectomy, and decompression are some of the treatment procedures that the team of surgeons at New Jersey spinal center specializes in.

What are lumbar and cervical spine surgeries?

Some of the back and neck spinal problems that may need corrective spinal surgery at New Jersey include:

• Loss of motor and sensory functions of arm or leg

• Disc herniation
• Spinal instability
• Disc protrusion
• Kyphosis or scoliosis of the thoracic spine
• Spinal stenosis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis of spine
The rate of success of a spinal surgery primarily depends on the accuracy of pre-operative diagnostic procedures performed. Depending on your fundamental spinal condition, the doctors at New Jersey spinal centers provide a range of treatment possibilities. Neck or back surgery is an elective process, and it involves provisional diagnosis, a complete health checkup, and tests such as CT, MRI and X-Rays.

What are my treatment options at the spine centers, New Jersey?

Depending on the specific issue that is causing your spinal problem, the surgeons at New Jersey spinal center will discuss a range of possible treatment options with you. Some of the special procedures performed include:

• Total disc replacement: The damaged disc is completely removed along with the osteophytes (bony structures that compress the disc or spine), and replaced with cushion-like substances.

• Minimally invasive surgeries: These surgeries involve advanced endoscopic techniques. Because the surgery is minimally invasive, there is only minimal blood loss (as a result of very small incisions) and healing happens quicker.

• Laminectomy: To reduce the symptoms of nerve root compression, the disc is completely or partially removed using an anterior or posterior approach.

• Microdisectomy: A very minimal portion of the bone above or below the diseased disc is removed.

• Spinal fusion: Performed to correct disability or fracture in a spine, this procedure involves installation of a spinal plate that acts to support the spine.

What are the benefits and risks of spinal surgeries?

Spinal surgeries are highly beneficial and advanced treatment options. They bring about significant improvement in your ability to perform daily functions and enhance the quality and longevity of life.

Rarely, spinal surgeries may lead to paralysis of leg or arm due to permanent damage of motor or sensory functions.