Stabilization surgery for spinal stenosis is sometimes performed in conjunction with a decompression surgery. Spinal stenosis is a condition that occurs when a spinal canal becomes narrowed due to the intrusion of debris such as bone matter, tissue, or vertebral disc material. In order to remove this debris and thus relieve pressure from the nerves and spinal cord, a decompression surgery is performed. But sometimes decompression surgery leaves the spine unstable, depending on which part of the spine was operated on and the amount of matter that was removed. When this happens, a stabilization surgery or “spinal fusion” is necessary to restore the structural integrity of the spine.
During stabilization surgery, either a bone graft or synthetic substance is inserted in place of the removed spinal component, with the intention of forcing two or more vertebra to grow together as a new bone. Hardware such as rods, screws, or wires can be used to hold the vertebrae together until new bone grows between them.
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved with stabilization surgery for spinal stenosis. The surgery involves long incisions and damage to muscles and tissues, so recuperation time can be long and painful. There are, however, procedures available to treat spinal stenosis symptoms in an outpatient setting using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques. Laser Spine Institute offers highly advanced endoscopic procedures that need only a small incision measuring about 5mm. This means minimal muscle and tissue damage, so recovery time is drastically shorter and infection rates are much lower than what is experienced with traditional open back surgery.
If you’d like more information on Laser Spine Institute’s minimally invasive spine surgery for spinal stenosis, contact us today. We’ll gladly review your MRI or CT scan, free of charge.
