Decompression

Anterior Cervical Decompression and Spine Fusion for Spondylotic Myelopathy

spine-health — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 09:40:19 -0800

Benefits of anterior decompression and spine fusion surgery

In the past, cervical laminectomy (removing the posterior aspects of the spinal canal) to decompress (relieve pressure on) the spinal cord had been the procedure of choice to treat spondylotic myelopathy resulting from cervical arthritis.

Anterior cervical decompression and spine fusion procedure

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:10 -0800

The decompression and spine fusion surgery is performed with the patient in the supine position under general anesthesia. Usual requirements include adequate padding of bony and soft tissue structures. Sequential compression boots are applied to the patient's lower extremities to avoid development of blood clots during the operation.

Most spine surgeons prefer to use Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEPs) or Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs) to monitor spinal cord function during the surgery. However, this is not essential.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy Video

spine-health — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:19:42 -0800

An anterior cervical discectomy is an anterior approach to removing a cervical herniated disc in order to relieve spinal cord or root pressure and alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, and numbness. This interactive video provides an overview of anterior cervical discectomy.

Back Strengthening Exercises After Microdiscectomy Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:15 -0800

After the soft tissue has healed (usually 2 to 3 weeks after surgery), it is important to start back strengthening exercises.

More Exercise Info

Overview: Sciatica Exercises

Exercise and Back Pain

Stretching and Back Pain

Strength Exercises

Abdominal Exercises

Decompression Surgery

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:52:39 -0800

Definition

Decompression is most commonly used to refer to a surgical procedure to alleviate pain caused by a pinched nerve (neural impingement, compressed nerve) in the spine. A pinched nerve can be caused by conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated disc and spondylolisthesis.

Laminectomy and Spinal Stenosis: Risks and Complications

Ben Parr — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:01:59 -0700

Lumbar laminectomy surgery is able to alleviate spinal stenosis pain by removing painful pressure on the nerve root and/or disc space. However, the procedure is not foolproof. Complications can result from a variety of factors.

The potential risks and complications with a laminectomy

procedure include:

Laminectomy and Spinal Stenosis: Success Rates

Ben Parr — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:02:02 -0700

The success rate of a lumbar laminectomy surgery to alleviate pain from spinal stenosis is generally favorable. Following surgery, approximately 70% to 80% of patients will have significant improvement in their function (ability to perform normal daily activities) and markedly reduced level of pain and discomfort associated with spinal stenosis.

Laminectomy Back Surgery Video

spine-health — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:19:44 -0800

A laminectomy is typically performed to alleviate pain caused by neural impingement that can result from spinal stenosis. The surgery involves removing a small portion of the bone and/or disc material around the nerve root to allow more space for better healing. This interactive video provides a step-by-step overview of a laminectomy.

Lumbar Decompression Back Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:18 -0800

Decompression is a surgical procedure that is performed to alleviate pain caused by pinched nerves (neural impingement).

In this type of back surgery, a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root is removed to give the nerve root more space and provide a better healing environment.

Several conditions may cause neural impingement, including spinal stenosis, a disc herniation, isthmic spondylolisthesis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, or (rarely) a spinal tumor.

Lumbar Decompression Back Surgery Considerations

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:13 -0800

For a lumbar decompression (a discectomy, microdiscectomy or laminectomy), it can take a long time for the nerve root to heal. In general, if a patient is getting better within three months following the back surgery, he or she should continue to get better. If there has not been any improvement within three months, then the back surgery can be assumed to be unsuccessful, and further work up would be reasonable. Within the first three months the success of the back surgery really cannot be judged.

Lumbar Laminectomy (Open Decompression)

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:18 -0800

A lumbar laminectomy (also known as open decompression) is typically performed to alleviate pain caused by neural impingement that can result from lumbar spinal stenosis.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Treatment and Surgery

Ben Parr — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:15:38 -0800

Once a doctor has made a conclusive diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis, conservative or surgical treatment should be implemented, depending on the severity of the stenosis.

There are several options for conservative (non-invasive) treatment for spinal stenosis include:

Microdiscectomy (microdecompression) Spine Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:18 -0800

In a microdiscectomy or a microdecompression spine surgery, a small portion of the bone over the nerve root and/or disc material from under the nerve root is removed to relieve neural impingement and provide more room for the nerve to heal. A microdiscectomy spine surgery is typically performed for lumbar herniated disc.

Osteomyelitis Treatments

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:50:16 -0800

Treatment for osteomyelitis is usually conservative and based primarily on use of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Occasionally, surgery may be necessary to alleviate pressure on the nerves, clean out infected material, and/or stabilize the spine.

Conservative treatments

Treatment for spinal infections usually includes a combination of intravenous antibiotic therapy, bracing and rest.

Post-Laminectomy Syndrome

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:16 -0800

History of present illness

The patient is a 47-year-old male who had an L5-S1 discectomy 5 years ago. Although the back surgery relieved his sharp leg pain, he continued to not only have back pain but also leg pain.

Post-laminectomy syndrome: chiropractor viewpoint

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:16 -0800

The patient is suffering symptomatically and beginning to be further restricted functionally but the nerve roots do not seem to be in peril at this time. He has back and leg pain, settling of the facets with the disc narrowing and significant degenerative disease. A lot of information is lacking. What is the type of conservative care he has received? Can the pain generator be more clearly delineated diagnostically?

Post-laminectomy syndrome: surgeon viewpoint

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:16 -0800

Since the patient’s symptoms have been long standing and he has tried conservative treatment he would be a reasonable candidate for surgery. Factors that suggest he would do well with a fusion include the fact that there is a lot of disc space collapse at L5-S1 and that the rest of the discs are all well preserved.

As the disc space collapses the nerve root exiting the level (in this case the L5 nerve) can get irritated and radiate pain down the leg. He does not have a recurrent disc herniation so a discectomy alone will not provide him any relief.

Posterior cervical decompression (microdiscectomy) surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:18 -0800

Some spine surgeons may prefer the posterior approach (from the back of the neck) for a cervical discectomy. This approach is often considered for large soft disc herniations that are lateral to (to the side of) the spinal cord.

The principal advantage of the posterior approach is that a spine fusion does not need to be done after removing the disc.
read more

Posterior Cervical Laminectomy

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:18 -0800

Top Back Surgery Topics:

Back/Neck Surgery Intro

Microdiscectomy

Lumbar Laminectomy

Cervical Spine Surgery

Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Postoperative care for decompression/fusion surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:10 -0800

Immediately after the surgery, patients will experience some difficulty swallowing or a sore throat due to manipulation of the esophagus. This usually resolves within several days, but symptoms may persist to a troublesome degree.

The pain associated with the procedure is relatively minimal, as most of the exposure is obtained by dissecting tissue, not dividing it. Pain at the graft site (where bone graft is obtained from the hip) is more of a concern if iliac crest graft is utilized.

Preventing post-laminectomy spinal deformity in children with intramedullary spinal cord tumors (Research article)

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:16 -0800

This study was conducted with the goal of determining if instrumented spinal fusion surgery performed at the time of tumor removal is effective in preventing the development of spinal deformity for children with intramedullary spinal cord tumors.

Sciatica: surgeon viewpoint

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:52:48 -0800

Based on the studies history and physical exam, this would not be a good patient for a surgical candidate. The MRI scan does not show much in the way of any nerve root pinching from either a disc herniation or stenosis. Although the L5-S1 axial scans are not shown, this scan also does not show any nerve root pinching. He actually has quite a patent canal. Also his pain is both when sitting and standing, and stenotic pain is usually just with prolonged standing or walking. Lastly, the epidurals helped a bit, but not dramatically.

Spinal Decompression for Back Pain Relief - Patients' Advice: Part I

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:17 -0800

Back-to-Back: Patients share tips on experiences with spinal decompression

Want to know more about spinal decompression from those who have been affected most? In our Back-to-Back section, patients share tips and advice about using non-surgical spinal decompression to treat their back problems. Please read through our Back-to-Back pages or discuss spinal decompression in our message boards

The right price for my treatment

Spinal decompression for back pain relief - patients' advice: Part II

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:17 -0800

Back-to-Back

Patients share tips on experiences with spinal decompression
In this section, patients share tips and advice about using non-surgical spinal decompression to treat their back problems.

read more

Spinal Decompression Patients' Advice: Avoiding Herniated Disc Surgery and Decompression Providers

Ben Parr — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:17:06 -0700

Back-to-Back: Patients share tips on experiences with spinal decompression

Spinal Decompression Patients' Advice: Inversion Tables and is the Therapy for Everyone?

Ben Parr — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:17:00 -0700

Back-to-Back: Patients share tips on experiences with spinal decompression

Want to know more about spinal decompression from those who have been affected most? In our Back-to-Back section, patients share tips and advice about using non-surgical spinal decompression to treat their back problems. Please read through read through our Back-to-Back pages or discuss spinal decompression in our message boards

Spinal Decompression Patients' Advice: Pricing and Degenerative Disc Disease

Ben Parr — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:17:03 -0700

Back-to-Back: Patients share tips on experiences with spinal decompression

Spinal Decompression Patients' Advice: The Benefits and Spinal Nerve Pressure

Ben Parr — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:17:09 -0700

Back-to-Back: Patients share tips on experiences with spinal decompression

Spinal Stenosis Surgery

Ben Parr — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:43:26 -0700

In most cases of advanced claudication (spinal or vascular), decompressive surgery is required. There are several opinions and techniques used in spinal stenosis surgery, but there are key components common to all such approaches.