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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Neurosurgeons are highly educated and specially trained spine specialists. It can take upwards of 8 years after medical school to become 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ever-advancing medical technology has afforded patients undergoing neck or back spinal fusion surgery a wealth of options when it comes to bone grafts.
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.
Discover how interspinous process decompression (IPD)—a minimally invasive spine surgery—can ease your back pain, and learn about its benefits and risks.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recent researchthat bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in pediatric spinal fusion surgery does not improve surgery outcomes and should be used with caution.
Learn about the advances in biologic materials in spine surgery. Jeffrey C. Wang, MD, a practicing spine surgeon answers SpineUniverse.com's questions.
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.
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.