Spine surgery is a medical procedure performed to address a variety of conditions affecting the spinal column, spinal cord, or surrounding structures. It is often prescribed when conservative treatments such as medication, physical therapy, or injections fail to provide relief. Here’s an overview:
Common Reasons for Spine Surgery
- Herniated Disc: Removing or repairing a damaged disc that is causing pain or nerve compression.
- Spinal Stenosis: Compression of the narrowed spinal canal causes nerve block..
- Scoliosis or Kyphosis: Correction of abnormal curvature of the spine.
- Fractures: Stabilization after trauma such as spinal fractures.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Removal of damaged discs and sometimes fusion of vertebrae.
- Tumors or Infections: Removal of growths or treatment of infections affecting the spine.
- Spondylolisthesis: Correction of spines that have slipped out of alignment.
Types of Spine Surgery
1) Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS):
- Smaller incisions, less tissue damage, faster recovery.
- Examples: Microdiscectomy, percutaneous fixation.
2) Open Surgery:
- Large incision with direct visualization.
- Examples: Spinal fusion, laminectomy.
3) Spinal Fusion:
- The joining of two or more vertebrae to stabilize the spine.
4) Discectomy:
- Removing part or all of the damaged disk.
5) Laminectomy:
- Removal of part of the vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
6) Artificial Disc Replacement:
- Replacement of a damaged disc with an artificial one.
7) Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty:
- Cement injection to stabilize vertebral fractures.
Risks and Complications
Infection
- Blood loss
- Nerve damage
- Pain at the graft site (if bone grafting is used)
- Adjacent segment degeneration
- Limited mobility (in cases of fusion)