SURGICAL INTERVENTION

We have always treated surgery as a last option approach, and this has been the foundation of our philosophy. Over 75% of our patients are treated successfully without any surgical intervention. However, if surgical intervention ever becomes necessary, we will deliver the most advanced and minimally invasive treatment options that are available today, including the following:

FULL LIST OF SURGICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS

  • Cervical laminectomy decompression
  • Cervical laminoplasty decompression
  • Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
  • Anterior cervical disc replacement
  • Thoracic laminectomy decompression
  • Thoracic laminectomy decompression and fusion
  • Lumbar laminectomy decompression
  • Lumbar laminectomy decompression and fusion
  • Direct lateral lumbar fusion with indirect decompression
  • Anterior lumbar decompression and fusion
  • Anterior lumbar decompression and disc replacement

LAMINECTOMY

This is a surgical procedure that decompresses nerve tissue by removing part of the bony process in the spine called the lamina.  This procedure can alleviate symptoms caused by nerve compression, such as muscle weakness, arm pain, and or leg pain.  This technique can be performed using traditional methods such as open or minimally invasive techniques such as a micro-laminectomy.

DISCECTOMY

This is a surgical procedure that decompresses nerve tissue by removing part of the disc.  This procedure can alleviate symptoms caused by nerve compression, such as weakness, and pain in the arms or legs.  This technique when performed posteriorly requires removal of part of the lamina to gain access to the disc space.  Removing part of the disc, and/or offending agent, decompresses the nerve thus alleviating symptoms.

COMPLEX LUMBAR FUSION

The surgical procedure is utilized to reconstruct deformities within the spine.  This may involve osteotomies, or removal of bony structures.  Typically, this procedure is done utilizing open techniques, but may be completed via minimally invasive approaches.  The goals of this procedure can include decompression of nerve tissue and to provide spinal alignment.

ANTERIOR CERVICAL DISCECTOMY AND FUCION (ACDF)

This surgical procedure, developed in the 1950s and then popularized in the 1980s, today serves largely to treat pathology in the neck, or cervical spine.

In summary, this procedure involves the decompression of nerve tissue via removal of disc material.  A spacer, placed in the disc space, allows spine to maintain height and improves alignment.  Bone will grow across the segment to produce a fusion in the postoperative period.

ANTERIOR CERVICAL FUSION WITH CORPECTOMY

This procedure requires a removal of one or more vertebral bodies in order to decompress the spinal cord.  A spacer, placed to span the segment, creates stability of the anterior column of the spine.  This procedure specifically addresses severe compression of the spinal cord.

CERVICAL SPINE DISC REPLACEMENT

This procedure utilizes the anterior approach to the cervical spine in order to remove disc material and decompress nerve tissue.  A spacer, placed in the former disc space, helps preserves motion of the spine.  Theoretically, a motion preserving device, such as a disc replacement, offloads bio-mechanical forces that would otherwise affect to the adjacent segments.

LUMBAR SPINE DISC REPLACEMENT

This procedure utilizes the anterior approach to the lumbar spine through the retroperitoneal space.  The procedure involves removal of disc material and subsequent nerve decompression.  A spacer, placed in the former disc space, helps preserves motion of the spine.  Theoretically, a motion preserving device, such as a disc replacement, offloads bio-mechanical forces that would otherwise impact to the adjacent segments.