Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery

Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) surgery is rarely necessary. DDD is the age-related deterioration of the intervertebral discs, which are the spongy components that separate and cushion the vertebrae. The discs are composed of gelatinous inner material (nucleus pulposus) and a tough, layered outer wall (annulus fibrosus). As the body ages, discs begin to lose their water content and elasticity and the outer wall becomes brittle and weak. This deterioration is not necessarily symptomatic. Only if the reduction in disc height leads to compression or irritation of nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord itself will symptoms arise.

Types of Degenerative Disc Disease Surgery

If DDD leads to nerve compression, symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness can occur. For most people, symptoms associated with the deterioration of one or more discs can be managed using conservative treatments such as pain medication, physical therapy, exercise, behavior modification, or other nonsurgical methods. However, if chronic symptoms persist after several weeks or months of conservative treatment, surgery to decompress the affected nerve might become an option. There are several surgical options available to treat DDD and related conditions such as bulging discs, herniated discs, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis, including:

• Discectomy – complete removal of the intervertebral disc
• Laminectomy – complete removal of the lamina, a bony segment that is part of the vertebral arch
• Foraminectomy – removal of a large amount of bone and tissue that help form the foramina, the openings through which nerves exit the spinal cord
• Corpectomy – complete removal of the vertebral body
• Spinal fusion – the use of metal plates, rods and screws, along with a bone graft, to immobilize one or more vertebral segments

Minimally Invasive Alternatives

The above procedures typically involve the use of general anesthesia and require a hospital stay followed by a long, arduous recuperation period. At Laser Spine Institute, the orthopedic experts provide an alternative. The minimally invasive procedures offered at Laser Spine Institute are performed on an outpatient basis using deep IV sedation and require a much shorter recuperation period than open back or neck surgery. Contact Laser Spine Institute to learn more, or for a consultation with a member of our medical team.