Surgery is generally not recommended to treat spinal osteoarthritis alone.
However, surgery may be recommended if osteoarthritis is accompanied by another condition, such as spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease.
Spine surgery is typically an elective procedure, meaning that it is the patient’s decision to have the surgery or continue with nonsurgical treatment options.
The recommended surgical procedures vary depending on the patient’s specific diagnosis and circumstances. Surgery for osteoarthritis and accompanying conditions is typically only considered after a concerted effort of nonsurgical treatments have been tried over several months. If there are progressive neurologic deficits (worsening weakness or numbness) then surgery may need to be considered more urgently.
In This Article:
- Osteoarthritis of the Spine
- Symptoms of Arthritis of the Spine
- Diagnosis of Spinal Arthritis
- Spinal Osteoarthritis Treatment
- Surgery for Spinal Osteoarthritis
- Lumbar Osteoarthritis Video
Decompression Surgery
Osteoarthritis can contribute to changes in the spine that lead to impingement of the spinal cord (central canal stenosis) and/or nerve roots (spinal stenosis). The impingement can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the arms and hands or legs and feet. The goal of decompression surgery is to reduce pain by providing more room for the spinal cord and/or nerve roots.
During a decompression back surgery, a small portion of the bone is removed to give the spine or affected nerve root more space. Examples of decompression surgery include facetectomy, foraminotomy, laminectomy, and laminotomy.
Watch Lumbar Laminectomy Surgery Video
Decompression surgery is not used to directly treat facet joint pain. It may be used when an osteoarthritic facet has become enlarged and is causing moderate to severe chronic nerve pain from impingement or a nerve root.
While a decompression surgery may relieve symptoms, it cannot prevent future facet joint osteoarthritis or other spinal degeneration. Symptoms may gradually return.
A decompression procedure may be done in conjunction with another type of spinal procedure, such as a vertebral disc repair or fusion surgery.
If a surgery is performed, it is a good idea to talk with your doctor about exercises you can perform after the surgery in order to help prevent a recurrence of inflammation and symptoms.
Spinal Fusion
Osteoarthritis can contribute to instability in the spine and facet joint pain. Stabilizing a facet joint can take pressure off it and reduce pain.
A spinal fusion may be performed to allow one painful motion segment to fuse into one long bone.
There are many types of spinal fusion, and the type of surgery depends on the patient’s individual needs, as well as the surgeon’s experience and preferences.
Many of these surgeries use minimally invasive approaches to minimize tissue damage, encouraging a faster and less painful recovery.
More than one procedure may be performed during the same surgery. For example, an ACDF combines a decompression and fusion procedure and both are done in the same operation.
Watch Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Video
For most patients, committing to an extensive and rigorous nonsurgical treatment program, which typically includes rehabilitative physical therapy and exercise, will help them avoid the need for back or neck surgery.
