Back Pain Treatment: Spine Surgery

Part 3 of 4

SpineUniverse Founder, Orthopaedic Surgeon

South Palm Orthospine Institute

Boca Raton, FL

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Spine Surgery
Fortunately, most back pain problems are treated successfully without surgery. However, there are certain conditions that are routinely treated surgically.

Discectomy
The most common cause of low back pain is a herniated disc. The surgical option for this condition is called a discectomy. A discectomy involves removing the soft gel-like material in the disc, returning the disc to a more normal shape, and relieving pressure on the nerve.

Laminectomy and Laminotomy
Spinal stenosis is another common cause of back pain, particularly in older people. The surgical option for this condition is called a laminectomy (removal of the entire lamina) or a laminotomy (partial removal of the lamina). The lamina is the small bony plate located in the back of each vertebra. Partial or total removal of this plate gives the surgeon access to the intervertebral disc. These surgical procedures are also used to treat spondylolisthesis and to relieve pressure on the spinal canal caused by spinal tumors.

Foraminotomy
A foraminotormy is a surgical procedure used to expand the opening through which nerves exit the spinal canal. This procedure is usually done to treat a compressed or pinched nerve.

Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is another surgical procedure. Spinal Instrumentation is often combined with spinal fusion. Instrumentation uses metal devices such as cages, metal plates, screws or rods. Fusion is the addition of bone graft that grows and heals in and around the instrumentation. These procedures are performed to stabilize the spine.

Posted on: January 7th, 2002
Last Updated on: January 12th, 2010

Peer Reviews by Leading Specialists

What is this?

Thomas G. Lowe, MD

This article brings a number of treatment options for the patient with a back problem to ask his or her healthcare provider about. The important fact to remember is that almost all of the causes of back and/or nerve root pain will respond to the nonsurgical treatments discussed in this article.

Epidural steroids can be effective in alleviating leg pain resulting from a herniated disc or narrowing of the spine from arthritis as long as the pain has not been present for more than 3-6 months. They are often prescribed in a series of three - 2-3 weeks apart. Although most herniated discs will resolve with time without surgery (6 weeks - 3 months), some patients will require surgery sooner because of severe pain or weakness of the leg resulting from compression of the nerve by the herniated disc. The same is true of laminectomy procedures for spinal stenosis. Spinal fusion is a major surgical procedure designed to relieve mechanical back pain resulting from arthritis by eliminating movement between two or more vertebrae. It should only be considered after a 3-6 month period of nonsurgical treatment options discussed in the article.

This article should inform patients with back pain that there are a number of treatment options available that should be discussed with the treating physician in order to expedite a successful recovery.