What You Need to Know About Invasive Spine Surgery

The spinal cord is an essential organ in your body for body movement and general body functioning. It houses nerves that supply different parts of the body. The spinal cord is divided into different sections based on the part of the body the nerves supply. The sections include the cervical region, lumbar, thoracic, sacral, and coccygeal regions. Nerves radiating from the cervical region of the spine innervate the neck, while those from the thoracic innervate the chest and arms. The abdomen and thighs receive innervation from nerves in the lumbar region, while the pelvic area is innervated by nerves in the sacral region.

Any damage to the spine has consequences. The consequences usually depend on the region of the spine affected. For example, if the lumbar region of the spine is affected, a problem like chronic lower back pain is a consequence. Similarly, damage to the cervical nerves leads to neck pains. Some medical conditions, such as spinal stenosis or herniation of spinal cord discs, affect the spinal cord. In such situations, you have the option of seeing a chiropractor or a spine surgeon in Mission Viejo CA. A chiropractor will take you through several sessions of chiropractic adjustments of the spine to its normal alignment. On the other hand, a spine surgeon will perform invasive spinal surgery to correct any problems from within.

What is invasive spine surgery?

This is a type of surgery of the spine that aims at correcting spinal physiology to solve a problem such as chronic back pain due to disc herniation. Spine surgery is usually a last resort treatment after medications, and chiropractic adjustments fail to work. This applies to patients with severe spinal damage.

Types of spine surgery

Spine surgery can be minimally invasive or open spine surgery. Minimally invasive surgery is the most common type of spine surgery. It involves spine surgery without the removal of the tendinous insertions of the spinal musculature. It also reduces the risk of damage to the soft tissues and muscles around the spine. As such, the recovery period of minimally invasive surgery is shorter compared to that of open surgery. Furthermore, most medical conditions involving the spinal cord can be corrected with minimally invasive surgery. This type of surgery is suitable for conditions such as disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spinal tumors, spondylolisthesis, spine infection, disc degeneration, and fractures to the vertebra that compress the spinal nerves.

There are different procedures for minimally invasive surgery that address different spinal issues. These include:

Laminectomy: For a spinal cord under much strain, your surgeon will remove all or a section of the lamina.
Spinal fusion: A common procedure that involves the use of bone graft to stabilize the spine. The recovery period for this procedure is, however, longer compared to the others.
Discectomy: This is a procedure that involves disc removal either in whole or in part.
Vertebroplasty: The procedure adjusts spinal vertebrae to prevent deformity and compression.
Laminotomy: This applies to a compressed spine. The procedure increases the space through which the spinal cord passes between the vertebrae.
Spinal decompression: Another common procedure that aims at aligning the spine and preventing the compression of spinal nerves.

On the other hand, open spine surgery is not minimal. The spine surgeon makes a long incision to access the entire anatomy of the spine. This type of surgery is commonly associated with complications, such as excessive bleeding and infection, due to the long incisions involved. Additionally, the recovery period is longer.

How long does spine surgery last?

The duration of your spine surgery is usually determined by the type of surgery being performed and the severity of your condition. Minimally invasive surgery needs a shorter duration than open spine surgery. A spine surgery procedure can be two hours short or up to 10 hours long. The procedure needs precision since the spinal cord is a vital organ, hence the long duration of certain spine surgeries.

Recovery from spine surgery

The recovery process will vary from individual to individual. However, you can leave the hospital after about two or three days following minimally invasive surgery. This is because minimally invasive surgery is associated with less pain. The stay is prolonged if you undergo open spine surgery. You will be advised by your spine surgeon to avoid activities that strain your spine, such as excessive walking, swimming, cycling, or carrying goods, for about six weeks. After the six weeks, you may attempt to complete certain tasks but with caution.

To help with recovery, your surgeon may recommend a brace for your spine. Your spine surgeon may place the brace internally in the form of implants or recommend an external brace that you wear over your clothes. With the aid of braces, there is a significant pain improvement within two weeks. The appearance of the surgical area after recovery will also depend on the type of surgery you undergo. Minimally invasive surgery is associated with little to no scars after complete recovery. On the other hand, open surgery leaves behind prominent scars.

Candidates for invasive spine surgery

Not everyone with spinal cord problems is eligible for invasive spine surgery. There are some factors that your spine surgeon will consider before qualifying you for the procedure. Firstly, you need to have tried other forms of spine treatment, whether medications or chiropractic adjustments. You are only eligible for surgery if these methods were not effective. You also need to have good health and be free of conditions like diabetes. Diabetes is a medical condition that slows down wound healing and also increases the risk of complications during healing.

Risks of invasive spine surgery

The risks of surgery are common reasons why people are afraid of surgery as a form of treatment. However, with the appropriate consultation with your spine surgery, you can evade the risks. Some of the risks of minimally invasive surgery, the most common type of spine surgery, include:

Deep vein thrombosis.
An infection at the site of surgery.
Injury to the spinal nerves.
Paralysis of either one or both legs.
Post-operative pneumonia.

Certain risks are higher in certain individuals due to various health conditions. For example, a patient with hemophilia may experience prolonged bleeding. It is, therefore, essential patients receive all the information on the risks and benefits of the surgery before going through with it.