Spine Surgery

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Spine Surgery Overview
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If youve struggled with back pain for any length
of time, you may be wondering if spine surgery is
your only treatment option. Sometimes, surgery is
the only treatment. However, theres good
news. The vast majority of back problems can be
remedied with non-surgical treatments often
referred to as non-surgical or conservative
therapies.
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CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT
As with all non-emergency spinal surgeries, a
trial of non-operative treatment, such as
physical therapy, pain medicationpreferably an
anti-in?ammatory, or bracing should be observed
before surgery is considered. Spine surgery
may be recommended if non-surgical treatment such
as medications and physical therapy fails to
relieve symptoms. Surgery is only considered in
cases where the exact source of pain can be
determinedsuch as a herniated disc, scoliosis,
or spinal stenosis.
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MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY
Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), does not
involve long inci- sions, open manipulation of
the muscles and tissue surrounding the spine is
avoided, therefore, leading to shorter operative
time. In general, reducing intraoperative (during
surgery) manipulation of soft tissues results in
less postoperative pain and a faster recovery.
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SURGICAL APPROACHES
Here are surgical approaches and their
explaination below ANTERIOR APPROACH As the
name implies, the surgeon accesses the spine from
the front of your body, through the abdomen.
POSTERIOR APPROACH An incision is made in your
back. LATERAL APPROACH The pathway to your
spine is made through your side.
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COMMON SURGICAL PROCEDURES
There are a number of conditions that may lead to
Spine surgery. Common procedures include
DISCECTOMY OR MICRODISCECTOMY LAMINECTOMY
LAMINOTOMY FORAMINOTOMY DISC
REPLACEMENT
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• SPINAL FUSION A surgical technique used to join
  two vertebrae. A fusion can be accomplished by
  different approaches

ALIF Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Posterior
Lumbar PLIF Posterior Lumbar Interbody
Fusion TLIF Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody
Fusion LIF Lateral Interbody Fusion
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SPINAL INSTRUMENTATION
Computer-assisted image guidance allows surgeons
to view the operative site in far ?ner clarity
than traditional visualization techniques.
Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and
intraoperative ?uoroscopy (real-time x-ray) are
generally used, as these enable surgeons to
operate with a high level of precision and
safety.