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• Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

What is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome?

A far too common occurrence after open back surgery is unrelenting, unabated pain – often the same pain that caused the patient to consider surgery in the first place, or even pain in a location that did not hurt before the operation. Naturally, this will require a thorough medical examination, but after hearing the diagnosis, the patient may wonder: What is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome?

Failed back surgery syndrome – also known as FBSS or failed back syndrome – is a term that refers generally to the condition of any back surgery patient whose original condition does not improve – or even worsens – as a result of the surgery. In addition to the pain, stress, and long recovery involved in open back and open neck surgeries, 40 percent of open back surgery patients will also fall victim to FBSS, which presents as continued or worsening pain after surgery and recovery. The name is actually a misnomer, as it is really a generalized term for a wide variety of conditions that often arise or continue after back surgery, and is not a syndrome in the strictest sense.

Causes & Symptoms of FBSS

Even in the best of circumstances, open back surgery is no better than 95 percent likely to achieve the desired result – and in many cases, it may make matters worse. Some of the many causes of failed back surgery syndrome include:

• Incorrect diagnosis or treatment
• Incorrect location for surgery
• Failed spinal fusion
• Creation of new spinal injuries or conditions due to the diverted stress of vertebral fusion
• Nerve irritation or damage caused by surgical hardware or missed fragments of bone/disc
• Creation of scar tissue
• Residual pressure on nerve roots

Patients who experience FBSS often suffer continued pain caused by the original spine issue or even from new symptoms. Often, the patient is unable to recuperate completely and suffers from such issues as neck or back pain, reduced mobility, spasms, and even anxiety or depression.

FBSS Treatments

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Generally speaking, the only treatments available for FBSS are the same as those available for the original underlying issue – conservative treatment, such as pain medication, physical therapy, application of heat, etc.; or more aggressive treatment, such as additional surgery. There also is an option that has a much higher success rate than open back surgery and can even treat the effects of failed back surgery syndrome.

At Laser Spine Institute (LSI), our award-winning team of spinal surgeons has mastered revolutionary endoscopic laser techniques—minimally invasive outpatient procedures designed to treat spine issues effectively while avoiding the many drawbacks of traditional open back surgery, including the drawback of FBSS. If your previous back surgery has failed to address your spine issues or made them worse—or if you’re looking for an alternative to open back surgery—contact LSI today for more information or to take advantage of our free MRI or CT scan review.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.