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• Degenerative Disc Surgery

Degenerative Disc Surgery

Degenerative disc surgery is often recommended when an individual’s back or neck pain is debilitating and hasn’t responded to conservative treatments. There are several ways to surgically treat a deteriorated disc, with spinal fusion being the standard open back procedure. However, spinal fusion has a variety of risks and potential side-effects that need to be fully considered before undergoing surgery.

Any form of open back, degenerative disc surgery is invasive, and spinal fusion is no exception. The basic premise of this procedure is that one of the soft, cushioning intervertebral discs in the spine has protruded and is causing nerve compression. To alleviate this nerve irritation, a spinal surgeon removes the symptomatic disc in its entirety and then fuses the two adjacent vertebrae together with bone grafts and hardware.

This form of degenerative disc surgery has a number of notable potential risks:

• Open back surgery requires a large incision, muscle dissection, and other tissue trauma, leading to lengthy recovery and rehabilitation
• Infection, hemorrhaging, and the buildup of scar tissue are all possible
• The procedure is done under general anesthesia and requires hospitalization
• Spinal fusions may be rejected by the body
• The procedure isn’t reversible
• Pain may be transferred to another segment of the spine

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The medical team at Laser Spine Institute (LSI) is at the forefront of minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery, which is a more appealing form of disc surgery according to many patients. This branch of orthopedics incorporates the advances in computer and laser technology and can be used to remove the exact piece of the disc that is causing back or neck pain, without requiring any fusion. The result is less pain, greater success, and a shorter recovery period.

To learn more about your options for degenerative disc procedures, and for a free review of your MRI or CT scan, contact Laser Spine Institute today.

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