Spinal Surgery
Spinal Surgery
A Primer of Spinal Orthopedic Procedures
Both orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons are trained to do spinal surgery, and many doctors from both disciplines specialize in spinal surgery. The only difference between what they can do is that only neurosurgeons are trained to do procedures that involve the spinal cord, and only orthopedic surgeons are trained to do procedures to correct deformities like scoliosis.
Spinal orthopedic procedures may involve the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (mid and upper back) or lumbar spine (low back). Different techniques are needed in each area, but the spinal orthopedic procedures themselves are very similar.
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Some spinal orthopedic procedures involve open surgery, where the surgeon cuts through the muscles along the spinal cord and does surgery on the spine. The surgeon is usually able to approach the spine through your back (posterior spinal orthopedic procedures), but sometimes he must go through your body from the front (anterior spinal orthopedic procedures) to get at the injured area.
Some spinal orthopedic procedures can be done with minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. Endoscopic surgery causes less trauma to surrounding tissues and gives the surgeon better visualization of the damage.
To understand the different types of spinal orthopedic procedures, we need to understand a little terminology. The corpus or body of a vertebra is large, round bony part that gives the spine its stability. Between each pair of vertebrae is a disc, a gel-filled cushion that keeps the discs apart so that the spine can move freely and to provide space for the nerve roots to leave the spinal cord. The facets are the joints between vertebrae. The laminae are part of the bone that surrounds the spinal canal and protects the spinal cord.
· Corpectomy usually involves the cervical spine. The surgeon goes through the neck from the front and removes the body of one or more vertebra to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
· Laminectomy involves removing part of the lamina to relieve pressure on a nerve root. The vertebrae may or may not be fused.
· Discectomy is the removal of an intervertebral disc that is bulging out and putting pressure on a nerve root. The spine may be fused to keep the vertebrae apart, or an artificial disc can be inserted.
· Vertebroplasty means that the surgeon repairs the vertebra. This is often done as a minimally invasive surgery.
· Facetectomy is the removal of the facet joint to relieve pressure on a nerve root. Artificial facet joints may be available in the near future, similar to artificial knee or hip joints.
Your surgeon will tell you which spinal orthopedic procedure you need and explain exactly what he will do. This primer only explains the basics; your surgeon will give you information that is specific to you and the spinal orthopedic procedure you need.
About the Author: David Betz is a consultant doing work for Laser Spine Surgery http://www.laserspineinstitute.com and Houston Web Site Design http://www.novatexsolutions.com.
This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.
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Sirs, I have had thoracic spine surgery in 2004. During the first follow up visit, I told the doctor my ribs felt different from one side to the other. When asked why, he said they had to remove a rib and replace it after taking a graft from it. OK. I had pain on my left side, starting from the solar plexus going under my left arm to the T7-8 area.
It has been six years. I have stopped taking all the narcotics for the obvious reasons, mood, constipation, taking more because they do not work as before. This pain has taken over my life. In December 2008 I went to my family doctor to see if we could find a problem (scar tissue?). Had a CT scan only to find out I needed a double coronary bypass. Another chest opening. They said nothing could be found that would cause my pain. So here we still sit with phantom pain. What is being done in this field? Have you any others with similar situations? All I get are confused and “please finish your story because I have other patients” looks. I am 59 and not looking forward to the future.
l have a prolasped disc on the L5now some years ago my doctor told me that no one would operate on me l have hip trouble as well but l cant walk far and cant really do much l am 62 what would be my chances of a operation
i am 83years old i have know blood flow in my right foot i am not albe to walk on my foot in pain all the the time would i be okay with spinal anesthesia
This Is for W. Lisowski. I read an artical in the November 2009 Scientific American about chronic or neuropathic pain that might shed some light on your problem.
There is on going research that is finding the causes of this kind of ailment and some drugs that are used for other treatments are showing promise along with other new drugs being tested.
Good Luck.
ihave bulging disc at C5-C6 and C6-C7. INDENTATION AT POSTERIOR MARGIN OF spinal sac atC4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7. impression on spinal cord C5-C6. thickening AND bucklig OF LIGEMNTUM FLAVUM ON CT images at C3-C4,C4-C5,C5-C6 and C6-C7endplate irregularity etc. etc
i had thoracic surgery on 25 febuary 2008 to remove a tumor since then i have been told that i have nerve damage and cronic pain i am on loads of meds and have just had injections into my spine i have no life my old life was not perfect i just wish i could have my old life back, i dont know any one that has this and would realy like to talk to some one who has this as i feel no one understands
I call this pain “THE CHARCOAL MAN”, I have lived with this pain for most of my life. It has taken me to places I could not even begin to define. I have finally turned and faced the charcoal man and because of this, I am better mentally to cope with his painful grip. I DO understand your pain because I finally have learned to understand my own. I am considering a laser procedure at North American Spinal in Dallas. Does anyone know anything about this? If you wish to learn more about YOUR charcoal man, please let me know.
I’ve had left rib pain for over three years and no one could find any evidence except the bone scan. I had a bike
accident where I lost my left elbow so I believe this has caused my pain. After trying chiropractic, massage, injections, MRIs, CT scans, and numerous types of medcine,
I agree this year to try the spinal stimulator. I’ve had the permanent implant four days ago and I’m having trouble with the pain in my spine from the incision for the leads in my toracic area, T7 and T9. I don’t know if this pain is temporary, but it is worse than the rib pain. There is a bulge on my spine where the leads were implanted. Can anyone tell me what is normal after the spinal cord stimulator is in?
this is for sharon. i am having the trial for the scs next week but have been reading some bad things about it and am scared to death about having it done ….has yours gotten any better. Is it helping now please write and tell me how you are doing.