All Spine Surgery Articles

Should You Get ACDF or Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery?

ACDF and disc replacement surgery can both take your neck pain and radiculopathy away. Which one’s right for you? Learn about how they’re similar and different to help you choose.

Beware These Lumbar Stenosis Surgery Pitfalls

Lumbar stenosis surgery isn’t always 100 percent successful. That’s why it’s important to carefully assess your personal risk factors before going under the knife.

Depression After Back Surgery Is Surprisingly Common

You might be surprised that depression after back surgery is a real thing, even if it relieves your pain. Learn to recognize the signs.

Lumbar Laminectomy

Lumbar laminectomy makes more room in the spinal canal by removing part of a vertebra. The procedure takes the pressure off nerve roots and relieves pain, limb weakness and other symptoms.

Laminotomy versus Laminectomy

Learn the difference between two surgical procedures relating to the lamina. The lamina is a thin, bony plate that covers and protects the spinal canal and spinal cord.

Questions to Ask Your Neurosurgeon

Not every patient with back or neck pain needs a neurosurgeon. Usually, the patient's primary care physician or chiropractor makes the referral to a neurosurgeon.

What Disorders Do Neurosurgeons Treat?

Neurosurgeons treat many different dieases and conditions affecting the brain, spine, nervous system, and related structures.

Neurosurgeon Education and Training

Neurosurgeons are highly educated and specially trained spine specialists. It can take upwards of 8 years after medical school to become a neurosurgeon.

What Is a Neurosurgeon?

A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist who treats diseases and conditions affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spine and spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves.

Robotic Spine Surgery: Q&A with a Pioneer in the Technology

Misconceptions about robotic spine surgery are dispelled by Isador H. Lieberman, MD, a pioneer in the technology. Why he thinks this technology will be the standard of care for complex spine cases within the next 5 years.

What is an Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon?

Orthopaedic spine specialists are orthopaedists who further specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal diseases and conditions.

Why Medical Clearance Before Spine Surgery?

Medical clearance before spine surgery evaluates your general health, existing medical problems or comorbidities, and risk potential for complications. This pre-operative clearance provides information your surgeon uses to reduce risks before, during and after back or neck surgery.

Cervical Disc Replacement Considerations and Surgery

Margaret's neck and arm pain was relieved after cervical disc replacement surgery performed as a minimally invasive spine surgery procedure. Q&A with orthopaedic spine surgeon, Richard Guyer, MD.

Diabetes and Spine Surgery: What You Need to Know

How people with diabetes can manage their blood sugar when undergoing back or neck surgery and reduce risk for complications.

Spine Surgery Overview

Is spine surgery your only option for back pain? This article helps patients understand when a spine procedure may be recommended.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) may be a better surgical option than traditional or open spinal surgery to treat different causes of back pain and neck pain.

Cervical Disc Replacement for Neck or Arm Pain

Cervical disc replacement is considered an option for some patients with arm or neck pain, and symptoms related to a problem involving one or two cervical discs.

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Compared to open spine surgery, minimally invasive spine surgery offers several advantages. Learn about the benefits.

Solid Growth: Bone Grafts’ Role in Spine Surgery and Fusion Success

Ever-advancing medical technology has afforded patients undergoing neck or back spinal fusion surgery a wealth of options when it comes to bone grafts.

Should I Consider Artificial Disc Replacement for My Back or Neck Pain?

A spinal neurosurgeon and leader in total disc replacement, shares his thoughts on the current state of this surgical alternative to spinal fusion.

Understanding Lumbar Fusion Surgery

The goal of lumbar fusion surgery is to relieve low back and leg pain, numbness, tingling and weakness, restore nerve function, and stop or prevent abnormal motion in the spine.

The Role of Bone Graft in Spinal Fusion Surgery

Bone graft doesn't heal or fuse the spine immediately; instead, bone graft provides a foundation or scaffold for the patient's body to grow new bone.

Conditions Treated with Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

9 spinal disorders that may be treated using minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and the potential benefits.

Interspinous Process Decompression

Discover how interspinous process decompression (IPD)—a minimally invasive spine surgery—can ease your back pain, and learn about its benefits and risks.

BMPs and Biologic Materials in Spine Surgery

There has been a great deal of controversy regarding the use of BMP in spine surgery. A practicing spine surgeon and leader in the field of biologic materials, answers our questions in the insightful interview.

SI Joint Fusion is Highly Successful in Most People Who Respond to an SI Joint Block

Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion using the iFuse Implant System is highly successful in people with SI joint dysfunction who have a physical exam pointing to the SI joint and experience pain relief during a diagnostic SI joint block (injection of a numbing agent into the SI joint).

Non-operative Interventions for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Ralph Rashbaum, MD, and orthopaedic spine surgeon answers questions posed by SpineUniverse about failed back surgery syndrome. In this segment, Dr. Rashbaum explains when surgery is not elective and important considerations for both patients and surgeons.

Causes of Failed Back Surgery Are Multifactorial

"How can surgeons reduce the risk for failed back surgery syndrome?" is the question Dr. Ralph Rashbaum answers.

What Is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS)?

In order to be classified as failed back surgery syndrome, there has to be a correlation between the surgical event and the failure to improve as a direct result of the surgery.

What To Do If You’re Considering Back Surgery

If you are contemplating spine surgery, and want to potentially avoid failed back surgery, you may be interested to know what an orthopaedic spine surgeon recommends you consider—including, important questions to ask.

Treatment for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Failed back surgery syndrome, FBSS, and its treatment considerations are explained by Ralph Rashbaum, MD, an orthopaedic spine surgery. Dr. Rashbaum explains his approach to proper patient care when back surgery is not successful.

Lumbar (Low Back) Artificial Discs: Spine Technology Update

The development of artificial discs for implantation into the low back started 20 years ago. Here is the history of these devices and where this technology is today.

What Is Microforaminotomy?

Microforaminotomy is a type of minimally invasive spine surgery that helps relieve pressure on your spinal cord or nerve roots. Smaller incisions and a faster recovery may make this procedure more attractive than open foraminotomy.

How Spine Surgery Treats Cervical Myelopathy and Deformity

Neurosurgeon explains his diagnosis and treatment of a patient with cervical myelopathy and deformity.

Neurosurgeon or Orthopedic Surgeon? Does it Matter?

It is important for patients to realize that both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons perform spine surgery. There is an emerging field of "spine surgery" that incorporates both specialties.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Surgery Treats Low Back Pain

ALIF may be recommended to treat certain spinal conditions that may cause back and/or leg pain or instability.

Smoking, Tobacco Use, e-Cigarettes and Spine Surgery

Five spine surgeons answer questions from SpineUniverse.com about smoking, tobacco use, including e-cigarettes and spinal surgery.

Kyphoplasty, Vertebroplasty, Vertebral Augmentation Implant: Treatments for Spinal Compression Fractures

Vertebroplasty, balloon kyphoplasty and vertebral body augmentation are minimally invasive surgical procedures performed to stabilize the fracture and relieve back pain caused by with vertebral compression fractures.

Vertebroplasty Reduces Pain Following Spine Fractures

Spine fractures are common and disabling in people with osteoporosis. Learn about what new findings suggest about a procedure called vertebroplasty.

Anterior Disectomy and Fusion Using Simmons Keystone Technique: Discussion

A discussion of the two cases involving anterior discectomy and fusion using the Simmons Keystone technique.

Spine Surgeon Tells Patients How to Prepare for an Appointment

Since most of us aren’t likely to have much time with a specialist, we asked Lali Sekhon, MD to share his advice on making the most of your doctor’s visit.

Artificial Disc Replacement as a Revision Procedure

Avid basketball player asks if he is a candidate for cervical artificial disc replacement for neck pain that developed years after a successful spinal fusion.

6 Topics to Help You Talk with Your Spine Surgeon

SpineUniverse spoke with Lali Sekhon, MD, PhD, FACS to obtain his advice about preparing for and getting the most from an appointment or consultation with a spine surgeon.

How Safe Is Cervical Spine Surgery?

Complications during routine neck surgery are rare, and a study shows death, the most serious is virtually nonexistent.

Off-Label Use of BMP in Pediatric Spinal Fusion Controversial

Recent researchthat bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in pediatric spinal fusion surgery does not improve surgery outcomes and should be used with caution.

Use of Biologics in Spine Surgery

Learn about the advances in biologic materials in spine surgery. Jeffrey C. Wang, MD, a practicing spine surgeon answers SpineUniverse.com's questions.

Bone Graft Types for Spinal Fusion Surgery

Autograft and allograft are frequently used bone graft types for spinal fusion surgery, but new biomedical materials are advancing the case for bone graft substitutes.

What Is Microlaminectomy and Microlaminotomy?

Microlaminectomy and microlaminotomy are two types of spinal decompression surgical procedures performed to reduce neck pain or back pain caused by a pinched nerve. These spine surgeries remove bone spurs, herniated discs and other tissues that may compress or put pressure on a nerve root or spinal cord.

Microsurgical Treatment of Herniated Discs

Read about how minimally invasive spine surgery can be used to treat herniated discs.

I'm in Pain Now—Is My Spine Surgery to Blame?

Why do some people experience back pain, neck pain or other symptoms after spinal surgery? When spine pain returns weeks, months or years after back or neck surgery, you may wonder whether your procedure wasn't successful.
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