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Medical

• Why is endoscopic surgery at Laser Spine Institute better for me than other surgical options?
  At Laser Spine Institute, we use advanced, minimally invasive spine procedures to treat spine conditions with very little blood loss, scarring or scar tissue, and we do not introduce anything to cause any potential problems such as hardware.
• What are the risks of your laser-assisted spine procedures?
  Our surgery complications are generally very low compared to open back or neck surgery. Our procedures are endoscopic and require a small incision. Postoperative infection at the incision site is a complication that rarely occurs.
• What type of anesthesia is used for these spine procedures?
  The patient is sedated and comfortable throughout all of our spine procedures. After IV sedation, a local anesthetic is administered at the surgical site and intravenous medications are used to make the patient comfortable. Laser Spine Institute patients are able to communicate with the surgical team throughout the spine procedure and relate to the team when pain has been alleviated and a nerve impulse is moving the length of the nerve.
• I have spinal stenosis or foraminal stenosis. Can I be helped?
  Yes, our procedures are effective for these conditions. Laser Spine Institute can remove impingements to the spinal or foraminal canal and free the nerve, thereby relieving the pain and symptoms.
• How many spine procedures will I require to solve my back or neck pain?

  Back and neck pain is very individualized as to how many procedures will be needed. During the initial evaluation, it will be determined how many levels of damage are causing symptoms. In most cases, problems are found at multiple levels, but only one or two of them may be causing symptoms. Most patients just need one surgery but many have multiple procedures within that surgery.

  Those patients who have multiple pathologies occurring at once may require a combination of techniques that include, for example, both a foraminotomy and a laminotomy. These procedures can be done concurrently by Laser Spine Institute surgeons so that you are in the operating room only once and your recuperation, time and costs are kept to a minimum.

• Can you help me if I have had failed open back surgery?
  Yes, we typically can. In fact, a large percentage of our patients have had failed back surgery in the past or have new spine conditions due to fusions. Laser Spine Institute's procedures can correct most spine conditions, plus our surgeons can remove unwanted hardware that is causing additional pain. Scar tissue development from a previous open back surgery can also cause new and painful spine conditions and can be removed by our surgeons.
• What medications should I avoid prior to having your endoscopic spine procedures?
  You must be off of all aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs (or any combinations drugs with these in it) two weeks prior to coming for surgery. These medications thin your blood. Coumadin is a strong blood thinner and if you are on this medication, please consult your doctor about discontinuing it prior to coming for your surgery. If you are taking any other medications, please inform us at the time you are scheduling surgery so we can advise you about them on an individual basis. Our nurse will give you detailed instructions prior to and after your laser spine surgery.
• How soon after surgery can I drive?
  Due to the IV sedation and local anesthetic that we utilize, you are able to return to normal driving and other activities of daily living within twenty four hours of your procedure.
• If I have cervical surgery, how long will I have to wear a neck collar?
  A cervical collar is required to be worn for the first two weeks after surgery. Patients are instructed to wear the collar if they are sitting or walking for an extended period of time, such as working at a desk or driving in a car.
• How is the laminotomy procedure different from a laminectomy?
  To open up the spinal canal, we use an endoscopic approach for laminotomies-without the need for general anesthesia. We do not perform laminectomies. A laminotomy is a surgical procedure that is used to relieve pressure off the spinal canal for the exiting nerve root and spinal cord, increasing the amount of space available for the neural tissue and thus releasing the nerve(s). The term laminotomy is derived from the Latin words lamina (bony plate that covers the posterior arch of the vertebra) and -otomy (act of cutting, incision). Another type of surgery called a laminectomy is a procedure used in open back or neck surgeries that involves removing the lamina to increase the amount of space available for the neural tissue. The term laminectomy is derived from the Latin words lamina (thin place, sheet, or layer), and -ectomy (removal).

General

• What do I have to do to find out if I am a candidate for Laser Spine Procedures?
  You can go to our Contact Us page and give us a call, or submit your information and questions by e-mail through our website. One of our Patient Coordinators will contact you at the time and manner in which you request and answer your questions. After that, if you would like a complimentary MRI review to determine if you are a candidate for our procedures, all you need to do is fax your MRI report and one of our medical staff will review the report, determine if you are a candidate, then call you to discuss your condition and what Laser Spine Institute procedure(s) will help you. It's that easy, and there is no cost to you for this review and discussion with one of our staff members.
• If I'm coming from out of town, how long will I have to stay in your area?

  This is outpatient surgery, so there is no overnight stay at our facility. If you are from out of town, you will need a local hotel room for the length of your stay. There are numerous hotels within 1 mile of Laser Spin Institute surgery centers.

  There are two preoperative days of testing, the surgery, followed by a day of rest and recovery, and a final postoperative appointment. If a second surgery is needed, the process would repeat. Preoperative testing does not have to be repeated if more surgery is required within a 30-day period. In general, a patient is looking at staying in our area for one week per surgery.

• What are my limitations after endoscopic spine surgery, and how long will I be out of work?
  We want you to limit lifting over 10-15 pounds for about six weeks. We recommend that patients return to normal activities gradually to allow for maximum healing. Patients that have desk jobs can normally return to work within a few days and patients with physically strenuous jobs should wait six weeks, depending on the job. You may return to work with restrictions for those first six weeks and then return to normal activity there after.
• What arrangements do I need to make to have surgery at Laser Spine Institute?

  You will need to have someone available for you after your surgery to either drive you home (if you are local) or stay with you at a local hotel (if you are from out of town). Your Patient Coordinator will assist you in making arrangements.

  You will need to bring all medications you are currently taking.

• Why don't more surgeons use these types of techniques?
  These sophisticated procedures are difficult to learn and take years of training. They are on the cutting edge of medical technology and LSI is at the forefront of this movement. We see this changing in the future as this will become the standard of practice for surgical intervention of spinal conditions throughout the world. Until then, LSI is here to relieve the pain and suffering of people with spine conditions in the most effective, efficient and gentlest methods possible.
• Why aren't more surgeons around the country using these types of procedures?
  Due to the nature of this procedure, it takes a highly skilled and well-trained surgeon to utilize the laser and other advanced surgical instruments through such a small incision. At this time, the procedures performed by the surgical team at Laser Spine Institute are not widely taught in medical schools. A surgeon must be professionally trained by a certified physician in the specialty of minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery in order to master the technique. We are fortunate to have nine professionally trained surgeons operating at Laser Spine Institute that are enjoying positive results.
• May I request a specific surgeon?
  Yes, patients can make a request on which surgeon they would like to perform their surgery at Laser Spine Institute, however we cannot guarantee that a specific surgeon will definitely perform all the procedures. Since the surgeons operate as a surgical team, it is not unusual for multiple surgeons to perform different procedures on the same patient. Every patient is different due to their anatomy or history of physical symptoms. Therefore, every case is reviewed by each surgeon and delegated according to each surgeon's specialty and the availability in the schedule.

Insurance

• What are the costs of your endoscopic spine surgery?
  Laser Spine Institute accepts most health insurance. Therefore, many patients are only responsible for their out-of-pocket expenses. Your maximum financial responsibility will be determined by your individual health insurance coverage. To quickly confirm your benefits, call our helpful Patient Coordinators today at 1-866-276-5320.
• Why isn't the Laser Spine Institute in contract with Medicare for the facility fee?
  Laser Spine Institute physicians are in contract with Medicare for the professional services that they provide. However, the Laser Spine Institute facility itself is not in contract with Medicare. Therefore, a facility fee is incurred by the Medicare patient as an upfront, out-of-pocket cost. Laser Spine Institute has the strongest desire to provide every patient with not only the most professional and qualified service from its surgeons and staff, but with the most state-of-the-art amenities and equipment from its advanced facilities.
• Will I be able to know exactly how much reimbursement I will receive from my insurance provider prior to surgery?
  We at Laser Spine Institute are unable to make any guarantee of the exact amount of reimbursement each patient will get back from their insurance company due to the fact that each insurance company and each insurance plan is different. Our staff does provide each patient with the appropriate CPT codes for each service provided to use in contacting their insurance provider. Those codes can give each patient an idea of how much reimbursement they may receive from their insurance according to what is usual and customary under their plan. Additionally, we have an insurance verification and pre-certification department that will verify your insurance benefits and assist in determining your total reimbursement.