Back Injury Overview

Back Injury Surgery

Surgeons use a variety of procedures to treat pesky back problems. Many patients think surgery may be their answer to permanent relief, but oftentimes surgery can leave a patient in a more painful state than they were prior to surgery. Surgery is only advised for select back disorders, and it should be used as a last resort when all noninvasive treatments are unable to fix the problem.

Since surgery only cures a fraction of all back injuries, it is recommended that patients educate themselves by getting more than one doctor's opinion and becoming knowledgeable about the facts associated with an operation--especially the risk factors. Remember that if you decide to go through with surgery, you will be forced to abide by a strict regimen of back treatment and therapy for the rest of your life.

The two methods of back surgery include decompression and stabilization. Decompression is the typical choice when someone has a disc that is applying pressure to a nerve or a bone that is disrupting the nerve. Both of these situations can have neurological consequences. The source of this trouble is often a bulging disc or herniation of the disc pressing against the nerve. Stabilization, also known as spinal fusion, is a procedure that strengthens the spine. More specialized decompression and stabilization procedures include:

• Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) - common among patients who suffer from back and/or leg discomfort. The pain is often generated as a result of the natural deterioration of disc space.
• Laminectomy - operation targeting the lower spine to alleviate pressure on a single or multiple nerve roots. The term literally means removal of part of the spinal canal's bony roof.
• Lumbar microsurgery - procedure performed on the lumbar spine utilizing a surgical microscope and applying microsurgery expertise.
• Minimally invasive lumbar laminotomy /discectomy - involves the creation of a narrow tunnel that follows a path through the back muscles and down to the location of the herniated disc. The difference between this and an open discectomy is that the discectomy requires a sizable incision to provide visibility for the surgeon to peel the muscles off the spinal column and see the area which surrounds the herniated disc.
• Spinal fusion - the joining of two bony pieces (e.g., fracture, vertebral joint).
• Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) - typically performed on patients who are victim to back and/or leg soreness. The origin of this pain can be the direct result of the natural deterioration of disc space or linked to some sort of traumatic event.