Spinal stenosis surgery usually becomes an option only after patients have exhausted the conservative (nonsurgical) treatment methods recommended by a doctor, spine specialist, or physical therapist. Most people who experience chronic symptoms associated with a narrowing (stenosis) of the space allotted to the spinal cord or nerve roots are able to find relief without surgery. Conservative treatment usually entails a regimen of medication, epidural steroid injections, exercise, and stretching. Some patients also turn to complementary or alternative forms of treatment, including acupuncture and chiropractic manipulation. Ultimately, regardless of which type of treatment is utilized, the goal is to alleviate nerve compression. If this can’t be achieved conservatively, surgery might become a consideration.

Types of Spinal Stenosis Surgery

The goal of spinal stenosis surgery is the same as that of conservative treatment – to alleviate the pain, tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness caused by nerve compression. The procedures themselves are referred to as “decompression” surgery, which is categorized in one of two ways: open back or neck surgeries, and minimally invasive procedures. The type of surgery recommended will be determined by a number of factors, including the underlying cause of the nerve compression, the location in the spine of the spinal narrowing, and the overall health of the patient. Another factor is whether the narrowing is present within the spinal canal (canal stenosis) or within one of the openings (foramina) where nerve roots exit the spinal column (foraminal stenosis).

Open Back or Neck Surgery

Many patients who undergo spinal stenosis surgery turn to open back or neck surgery for relief, usually in the form of spinal fusion. Fusion is used to permanently immobilize a vertebral segment that has been affected by a degenerative spine condition such as osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease. Although there are many forms of open back or neck surgery, most of these procedures have several things in common.

These commonalities include the use of general anesthesia and overnight hospitalization, as well as the insertion of bone grafts and plastic and metal hardware to fix the vertebral segment in place after the offending portion of spinal anatomy has been removed to alleviate the nerve compression. What follows is an arduous rehabilitation, usually accompanied by weeks or months of physical therapy.

The potential risks and side effects of spinal fusion include infection, internal bleeding, the failure of fusion hardware, and the rejection of bone graft material, if any is used.

Minimally Invasive Spinal Stenosis Surgery

Some patients suffering from spinal stenosis symptoms find that they are candidates for the alternative to spinal fusion, minimally invasive procedures performed using endoscopic techniques. The use of an endoscope to access the source of nerve compression through a small incision, rather than overt excision of soft tissue, allows for a much more rapid recovery in the majority of cases. In addition, most minimally invasive spine procedures require no general anesthesia and can be performed on an outpatient basis. No hardware is inserted, because only the minimum amount of tissue or bone matter is removed to allow for the decompression of spinal nerves. This allows for the resumption of spinal stability without the need for fusion hardware.

Patients considering spinal stenosis surgery should discuss all of their options with their doctor or spine specialist before committing to a particular type of procedure. Doing research on one’s own about the surgical approaches available and getting a second opinion might also prove advantageous to spinal stenosis patients.

Author Bio: Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient procedures for spinal stenosis and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Spinal Stenosis