1-

• Contact Laser Spine Institute
• Request MRI Review
• Medical Consulation

You are here

• Home
• »
• Spine Conditions
• »
• Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Causes
• »
• Causes of FBSS

Possible Causes of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome affects up to 40% of patients who have undergone traditional open back and neck surgeries. FBSS is not a syndrome, but a general term encompassing various conditions experienced by victims of unsuccessful spine surgeries. FBSS is the unfortunate result of a back or neck surgery that failed to alleviate the patient’s original problem, exacerbated an existing condition, or created new problems and accompanying pain.

Possible causes of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome include:

• An erroneous initial diagnosis of a patient’s original condition
• Administering improper surgical treatment(s) for the condition
• Performing surgery at an incorrect level on the spine
• Failure of spinal fusion surgery. This type of surgery treats the bones, or vertebrae, of the spine by fusing two or more vertebrae with bone grafts, metal rods and screws.
• Fusion surgery that has transferred problems to another level of the spine, causing a new source of degeneration and pain
• Fragment of disc or bone still pinching a nerve
• Hardware insertion
• Scar tissue formation that impinges on a nerve root
• Inadequate decompression of a nerve root
• Pre-operative nerve damage that does not heal after surgery, or nerve damage occurring during surgery

Symptoms of FBSS are wide-ranging, and can include:

• Continued chronic pain
• Pain above or below the treated level of the spine
• Inability to recuperate quickly or at all
• Restricted mobility and flexibility
• Sharp, stabbing back pain
• Pain radiating from the back to the legs
• Back spasms
• Anxiety and depression
• Potential dependence on drugs prescribed for pain treatment

Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 days Laser Spine Institute has gentle and effective treatments for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome thanks to our minimally invasive endoscopic procedures performed by our medical team. At Laser Spine Institute, there is hope for patients, and, often, relief from FBSS. The first step is to contact LSI and speak to a member of our staff to discuss your symptoms potential treatment options, and to receive a free MRI or CT scan review.

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