Different Types of Spine Surgery

As per research, around 1.62 million spine surgeries are conducted each year. Surgeons advise various types of spine surgeries according to the patient's condition. Typically spine surgery treats multiple conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spinal fractures, spinal deformities, and degenerative disc diseases. A surgeon will evaluate the spine condition and disease severity and then decide which surgical procedure to opt for. In this blog, you will learn about various types of spine surgery.

Spine Surgery Types

There are several types of spine surgery that a surgeon may recommend depending on the underlying condition of the patient and the severity of the symptoms. Hence, some of the main types of spinal surgery include the following.

Spinal Fusion

In spinal fusion surgery, the surgeon fuses two or more vertebrae to provide stability to the spine. This type of surgery is mostly recommended for spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease. Moreover, spinal fusion can be performed at any level, and it prevents movement at the fusion site.

Discectomy 

In this type of surgery, the doctor removes a portion of a herniated disc that causes pressure on a nerve. This surgery helps to release the pressure on a spinal nerve, as a result, relieves back pain.

Laminectomy 

As clear from the name, the surgeon removes the lamina (the bony arches of the vertebrae) to relieve pressure on a nerve root or spinal cord in this surgery. Most commonly, this type of surgery treats spinal stenosis or herniated discs.

Artificial Disc Replacement

In this type of spinal surgery, surgeons replace a damaged or diseased spinal disc with an artificial one. Contrary to spinal fusion, it preserves mobility and motion at the surgical site. Furthermore, this surgery is done in the lower back region and is known as lumbar disc surgery.

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a famous minimally invasive procedure involving injecting bone cement into vertebrae that have collapsed due to osteoporosis. Hence, this surgery helps restore the spine's original shape and relieves pain from compression of the spine.

Nucleoplasty 

It is another minimally invasive procedure that helps treat back pain. It is specifically used to treat the discomfort created by a herniated disc. In this surgery, a radiologist uses image guidance to remove the problematic disc tissue. Thus, it helps relieve pain and restores mobility.

Conclusion

Spinal surgery is a complex medical procedure that can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from spine-related conditions. Spine surgery has various types with unique benefits and risks as well. After analyzing your condition, your surgeon may suggest a suitable type of surgery. Pick the best surgeon near your vicinity for this life-saving surgical procedure. Dr. Abdul Baker is an excellent choice if you live in Texas.

FAQs

1.      What are the possible risks of spine surgery?

Just like any other surgery, spine surgery has some potential risks. However, in spinal surgery, a patient may face bleeding, infection, nerve damage, spinal cord injury, etc.

2.      How long does it take to recover from spine surgery?

The recovery time of spine surgery varies depending on the type of spine surgery and the patient's condition. Overall, the recovery period may consist of 4 to 6 weeks. But for complete recovery, the patient may need six months to an entire year.

3.      For which conditions is spine surgery recommended?

Spine surgery is usually recommended for the following reasons.

• Spinal trauma
• Spine tumor
• Spinal infection
• Degenerative spine conditions
• Spinal deformity