Spine Surgery

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for discomfort that people experience.  The most common cause of back pain is arthritis, discogenic pain, muscle spasms and strain and spinal stenosis.  While spine surgery is rarely an initial treatment for back or neck pain, when it does become necessary we have the experts in the field.
Our spine surgeons are board certified and have received fellowship training in the specialty.  They are experienced in the treatment of spinal conditions, including scoliosis, degenerative or herniated spinal discs, fractures of the spine, and tumors of the spine.  Many of our surgeons perform minimally invasive fusion techniques, and are certified in performance of artificial disc replacement surgery.  Some common types of spine surgery are:

Discectomy is one of the procedures often done to remove a portion of the disc that is between the vertebrae.  The disc is removed to relieve the pressure on the nerves that is causing pain, numbness or weakness.

Foramenotomy is another procedure done to relieve pressure on the nerves.  In these situations the nerve is being pinched by more than just the herniated disc.  A foramenotomy removes a portion of bone and other tissue that may be compressing the nerve as it exits the spinal column.

Laminectomy is done to relieve pressure on the spinal cord itself.  A laminectomy is most commonly used to treat conditions such as spinal stenosis.  Depending on the amount of bone removed, this procedure may be done with a spinal fusion to prevent instability.

Spine Fusion is a surgical procedure that is done to eliminate motion between two vertebrae.  The spine fusion may be done to treat a problem such as spondylolistheseis (unstable spine), or it may be done because of the extent of other surgery (such as a laminectomy).

Spinal Disc Replacement can be done in certain instances when people are suffering from disease in the cervical spine.  When discs in the cervical spine degenerate, the padding wears down and the vertebrae move closer together and can cause pain.  An artificial disc can replace the damaged one.