Treatment for back and neck pain attributed to spinal problems normally begins with non-invasive treatment. Bed rest, physical therapy, the application of hot or cold compresses, and medication to reduce pain and inflammation frequently have positive results if observed diligently, and over time will enable many afflictions of the spine to heal. For those patients whose spine problems do not improve or are too severe to be affected by conservative treatments, Laser Spine Institute (LSI) makes use of some of the most advanced technologies to treat neck and back pain.
Endoscopic Technology
At Laser Spine Institute, our specialty is minimally invasive endoscopic techniques that enable us to address your spine problem without the larger incision, longer recovery time, increased discomfort, and added risk of open back surgery. The surgeon makes a small incision and inserts a series of tubes that gradually increase in size, essentially allowing muscle and tissue to move aside with a minimum of cutting. Then, all surgical instruments go into the final tube, which is about 1 cm in diameter.?
Minimally Invasive Procedures
LSI’s repertoire includes groundbreaking procedures such as the following:
- Facet Thermal Ablation – When the facet joints – the points at which vertebrae are connected to one another – begin to wear out (a condition caused facet disease), they can cause pain due to increased friction as the cartilage begins to break down. In a facet thermal ablation, the surgeon will use a laser to remove debris and to deaden the nerve that causes pain.
- Foraminotomy – If a patient suffers from foraminal stenosis, the pathway through which spinal nerve roots travel (called the foramen) is constricted, putting pressure on the nerve root and causing pain and other symptoms. A foraminotomy relieves this pressure by removing with a laser the bone and tissue that has closed up the foramen.
- Laminotomy – The lamina is a thin bony plate that comprises part of the posterior section of the vertebra. Occasionally, the lamina must be removed to give more space to the nerve root or spinal cord; sometimes it must come out to give the surgeon access to the trouble spot beneath it. In either case, our surgeons perform laminotomies endoscopically.
- Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy – A discectomy is a procedure used to remove part of a herniated or bulging disc that is compressing a nerve root or the spinal cord. If a herniated disc has not ruptured and leaked fluid into the spinal canal, we will perform a percutaneous endoscopic discectomy to remove the herniated portion of the disc.
If your doctor has recommended surgery to correct spine issues such as the above, contact Laser Spine Institute for more information about these revolutionary procedures or to arrange a free review of your MRI or CT scan.
