Spine surgery has continued to undergo numerous improvements in a bid to make it both effective and safe. Some of the conditions that may require this form of intervention include spinal stenosis (narrowing), intervertebral disc prolapse, and body spurs causing compression of spinal nerves. Less invasive techniques are now preferred over the traditional more open methods. If they intend to undergo minimally invasive spine surgery long island residents need to understand a number of things first.
The doctor will first need to take you through the process of diagnosis. It is worth noting that not all types of back pain are managed surgically. As a matter of fact most cases will be treated conservatively. The doctor will seek to find out more about your symptoms by taking a medical history and also subjecting you to a physical examination. Imaging studies such as CT scan and spine MRI are also often necessary.
It is important that one considers the merits and demerits of the various interventions before settling down on one of them. Your doctor should guide you through this. If you make a decision to have the operation, you need to prepare for it. Among the things that may be required is for one to stop the use of nicotine products and drugs that may interfere with the healing process (such as blood thinners).
The main characteristic of minimally invasive operations is that very small incisions are made. They, therefore, results in less damage to muscle. The main forms of procedures that are undertaken are compression and fusion. Decompression is done when there is a need to minimize compression of spinal nerves. This can be achieved by removing portions of bone or an intervertebral disc.
Decompression is indicated in cases where part of the column is compressing the spinal cord or the spinal roots. Portions of bone may have to be removed for this to be achieved. In fusion on the other hand, several bones are fused together so as to reduce excess movement. This may help with body balance and may also reduce back pain.
There are two main types of anaesthesia that can be used; general and regional. General anaesthesia is used for procedures that are in the chest and neck regions while regionally anaesthesia is used if the problem is below the chest on the vertebral column. The advantage of regional anaesthesia is that one remains awake throughout.
While this operation is fairly safe, it is not devoid of complications. The chances of getting these complications is, however, much lower than with the open technique. Pain is experienced by almost all candidates of the operation but the degree is variable. Fortunately, the pain is minimal and reduces progressively over time except in a few instances. Infections are also a possibility and have to be prevented by use of prophylactic antibiotics. Others include excessive bleeding and nerve injuries.
The amount of time needed for recovery varies from one patient to another but is generally shorter than that required for patients undergoing the open procedure. Most patients are allowed home within two days as compared to five days if they are subjected to traditional surgery. Physical therapy is often recommend to help with the recovery process. One may resume most of their daily routine within a couple of days with full recovery occurring within a few months.
The doctor will first need to take you through the process of diagnosis. It is worth noting that not all types of back pain are managed surgically. As a matter of fact most cases will be treated conservatively. The doctor will seek to find out more about your symptoms by taking a medical history and also subjecting you to a physical examination. Imaging studies such as CT scan and spine MRI are also often necessary.
It is important that one considers the merits and demerits of the various interventions before settling down on one of them. Your doctor should guide you through this. If you make a decision to have the operation, you need to prepare for it. Among the things that may be required is for one to stop the use of nicotine products and drugs that may interfere with the healing process (such as blood thinners).
The main characteristic of minimally invasive operations is that very small incisions are made. They, therefore, results in less damage to muscle. The main forms of procedures that are undertaken are compression and fusion. Decompression is done when there is a need to minimize compression of spinal nerves. This can be achieved by removing portions of bone or an intervertebral disc.
Decompression is indicated in cases where part of the column is compressing the spinal cord or the spinal roots. Portions of bone may have to be removed for this to be achieved. In fusion on the other hand, several bones are fused together so as to reduce excess movement. This may help with body balance and may also reduce back pain.
There are two main types of anaesthesia that can be used; general and regional. General anaesthesia is used for procedures that are in the chest and neck regions while regionally anaesthesia is used if the problem is below the chest on the vertebral column. The advantage of regional anaesthesia is that one remains awake throughout.
While this operation is fairly safe, it is not devoid of complications. The chances of getting these complications is, however, much lower than with the open technique. Pain is experienced by almost all candidates of the operation but the degree is variable. Fortunately, the pain is minimal and reduces progressively over time except in a few instances. Infections are also a possibility and have to be prevented by use of prophylactic antibiotics. Others include excessive bleeding and nerve injuries.
The amount of time needed for recovery varies from one patient to another but is generally shorter than that required for patients undergoing the open procedure. Most patients are allowed home within two days as compared to five days if they are subjected to traditional surgery. Physical therapy is often recommend to help with the recovery process. One may resume most of their daily routine within a couple of days with full recovery occurring within a few months.
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