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Degenerative Joint Disease Surgery

Degenerative joint disease surgery, while not recommended for most people, may be the only way to relieve symptoms for others. Degenerative joint disease can be a debilitating and painful condition to live with, especially when age is a factor. The condition is also known as osteoarthritis or spondylosis (spinal arthritis). It can occur anywhere in the body, but in the spine, it happens when the cartilage between the vertebral facet joints begin to wear down, allowing the raw ends of vertebrae to rub against each other. This action can cause joint stiffness, inflammation, and other spinal conditions, including bony growths (osteophytes), bulging or herniated discs, and nerve compression.

When Should I Consider Surgery?

Most people find that they do not need surgery to treat degenerative joint disease. Conservative treatments, such as medication, exercise, and physical therapy are usually successful in alleviating symptoms. If you’re experiencing joint stiffness and pain in your back or neck, along with pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in your arms or legs, you may want to consider surgery. Traditionally, surgery for spinal osteoarthritis consisted of fusing the afflicted vertebrae, keeping with the idea that if the joint cannot move, no pain can be caused. While sometimes effective, fusion isn’t always the best choice because so many spinal conditions related to degenerative joint disease can cause symptoms. Other surgeries to keep in mind include:

• Removal of Osteophytes – These bony growths develop in response to the spine’s need to stabilize itself after joint degeneration. The growths can jut into the spinal canal, impinging upon the spinal cord or nerve roots. Removal of bone spurs can be performed as open back surgery or as endoscopic surgery.
• Endoscopic procedure – This procedure involves the insertion of a tiny camera outfitted with a laser or cutting and suction device to trim damaged cartilage off the affected joint.
• Osteotomy – An osteotomy performed on the spine is a relatively rare occurrence and is a major undertaking. It involves cutting or breaking the vertebrae in an effort to correct the spine’s alignment.
• Facet Arthroplasty – The complete replacement of a facet joint (one of the joints located between the vertebrae) is also possible, however a risky and fairly new surgery. This movement-resorting implant is an alternative to fusion.

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Other Options

There are always risks surrounding surgeries, particularly open back and open neck surgeries. If you are looking for a fast and effective minimally invasive procedure to help ease your degenerative joint disease pain,?contact Laser Spine Institute for a complimentary review of your MRI and CT scan. Our knowledgeable orthopedic specialists use state-of-the-art endoscopic techniques to treat a variety of back and neck conditions.

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