Spine Surgery

Spine surgery is part of surgical treatment attributed both to orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery. It specializes in the surgical treatment of the spine that could not be otherwise treated.

It includes:

Spinal fusion: 

SF is a surgical procedure that permanently joins together two or more vertebrae (spinal bones), limiting motion between them. The result is a lower risk of further compression on the nerves and reduction of back pain. The surgery includes making an incision, separating all the tissues exposing the spine, then, using a graft, the bones are fused together permanently. The bone graft can be taken from another part of the body (usually a hip bone), from a donor, or a synthetic bone substitute can be used. Because it takes time for the bone graft to subside in place, screws, rods, plates or cages are used to fix together the spine.
After the spinal fusion , will followed other treatments such as discectomy, laminectomy or foraminotomy.
SF is usually used to treat fractures of the spine bones, unstable spine caused by infections or tumors, spondylolisthesis (when one vertebrae slips forward on top of another), scoliosis (abnormal curvature in the spine), spine arthritis and other conditions.

Laminectomy:

Laminectomy is a surgical procedure that removes a part or all the lamina bone (the part of the bone that forms the arch of the vertebrae) on both sides of the spine, and in some cases along with the spinous process (the sharp, pointy part of the vertebrae). The procedure enlarges the spinal canal, relieving the compressed nerves.
Laminectomy is also used to remove bone spurs in the spine. 
The procedure is usually used to treat spinal stenosis (abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal) and can be combined with other types of surgery. This can be followed by spinal fusion due to unsteady vertebrae after the laminectomy.

Foraminotomy:

Foraminotomy is a surgical procedure where a part of the spine bone is removed thus widening the intervertebral foramina (canals through which the nerve roots leave the medulla). Foraminotomy is used to relieve the symptoms of nerve root compression and it can be performed on any fragment of the spine. It is usually done in cases of spinal stenosis, compressed nerves. As in laminectomy, the procedure can be followed by spinal fusion.

Discectomy: 

Discectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the intervertebral disc or the herniated part of it (cushions that separate the vertebrae and work as shocks absorbers). After the removal of the disc, the surgery is followed by spinal fusion to stabilize the vertebrae. 

Disc replacement:

A surgical procedure also used for herniated disc that includes the removal of the damaged spinal disc and replacing it with an artificial one. The treatment is not followed by spinal fusion so the motion is not limited, which constitutes a great benefit. 

All these operations are performed only after other treatments did not cure the spinal problem. The surgical treatment involves high risks. Keep in mind that the risk of relapse/recurrence is often encountered. The patient must closely follow the doctor’s recommendations.