Spinal Arthritis Surgery

Spinal arthritis surgery is almost always considered an elective procedure. Rarely will the symptoms caused by spinal arthritis progress beyond your ability to manage them through nonsurgical treatment. Pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness associated with spinal arthritis typically will respond well to medication, gentle exercise, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or other conservative treatment methods. However, if spinal arthritis produces chronic, debilitating symptoms that are unmanageable with conservative treatment, surgery might become an option.

The Goals of Spinal Arthritis Surgery

Spinal arthritis is the gradual deterioration of joint cartilage along the length of the spinal column. It can occur at any level of the spine, and is not always symptomatic. Only when nerve roots or the spinal cord itself become irritated or compressed will symptoms arise. This can occur when arthritic joints lead to bone-on-bone contact and the formation of bone spurs that extend into the space normally reserved for nerves. If these symptoms resulting from neural compression become debilitating and surgery is recommended, it‘s important to understand the two primary goals of surgery:

• Decompression – the removal of the cause of spinal nerve compression. In open back or neck surgery, this often involves the excision of a large portion of the spinal anatomy in order to free an impinged nerve.
• Stabilization – with a portion of the spinal anatomy removed, the spine‘s stability is compromised. Several methods of surgical stabilization are available, including bone grafts and spinal fusion using metal rods, screws, and plates.

The Minimally Invasive Alternative

At Laser Spine Institute, our orthopedic specialists achieve decompression without the need for highly invasive, risky stabilization surgery. The use of revolutionary endoscopic technology allows for targeted removal of the abnormality causing the painful nerve compression, without the risks and long recuperation associated with open back and neck surgery. Contact Laser Spine Institute to learn more, or for a consultation with a member of our medical team.