The goal of laser spine surgeons is – as the title somewhat implies – to help patients with chronic back or neck pain find lasting relief from their symptoms. Surgeons who use lasers to perform spine surgery often work at outpatient surgical centers and are adept at endoscopic procedures that have emerged as accepted alternatives to highly invasive spinal fusion surgery.

Endoscopic procedures target only the precise cause of any neural compression that is present within the spine. For example, if a bone spur in the cervical (neck) region of the spine is compressing a spinal nerve root, an open spine surgeon who performs spinal fusion would likely remove the entire portion of bone where the excess bone growth (bone spur, also known as an osteophyte) is anchored. However, a laser spine surgeon would remove only the portion of bone necessary to decompress the nerve, and probably would not follow up with a spinal fusion unless extensive spinal degeneration is present.

Why is this important? Because with endoscopic procedures, as much of the spine’s existing infrastructure is left intact as possible. This allows patients to recover much more quickly than they might if they underwent open spine surgery.

The Incision

Among the many differences between endoscopic laser spine surgery and traditional open back surgery is the size and depth of the incision required to perform the procedure. Laser spine surgeons make only a small incision, typically no larger than one inch long, and no additional soft tissue or muscle is cut to gain access to the site of the nerve compression. Open spine surgery, on the other hand, requires a much larger incision in the neck, throat, abdomen, or back, and muscle is cut to provide open back or neck access to the spine. The smaller incision involved with endoscopic surgery exposes the patient to far less risk of post-surgical infection and scarring. Once complete, laser spine surgery is finished with a few stitches to close the incision.

The Surgical Tools

The reason only a small incision is required is that laser spine surgeons perform their operations using endoscopic techniques. This means that a series of small tubes is inserted through the incision, gradually widening the opening until only the access tube remains. A light source, a small camera (an endoscope), and other surgical tools are threaded through the access tube. This includes a laser, if the particular type of operation calls for it.

And what type of procedure might require a laser? One example is a facet thermal ablation, which is a minimally invasive procedure that helps spinal osteoarthritis patients find relief from pain and other symptoms that arise when an exposed spinal joint nerve becomes irritated and inflamed. The laser is used as a heat source to deaden (ablate) the nerve, thereby removing the source of the back or neck pain.

The Recovery

In the immediate aftermath of procedures performed by laser spine surgeons, many patients find they are able to actually walk around within a few hours. This is in contrast to most open spine surgery patients, who are hospitalized and just beginning an intensive course of physical therapy at that point – if they are even awake by then.

Most patients who undergo laser spine surgery find that they are able to return to regular activity within a month to six weeks, perhaps sooner. This is a much shorter period of recuperation than spinal fusion, which often requires six months or longer for patients to return to normal activity.

The Outcome

One of the main benefits of laser spine surgery is a higher rate of favorable outcomes than open spine surgery. There is far less risk of infection, and because no stabilizing hardware or bone graft is used, there is no risk of hardware failure or bone graft rejection. This reduces the risk of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) significantly.

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 performed by top laser spine surgeons for the treatment of several degenerative spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute, the leader in endoscopic spine surgery. Laser Spine Institute offers safe and effective outpatient procedures performed by top laser spine surgeons for the treatment of degenerative spinal conditions. http://www.lsiscottsdale.com/

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 performed by top laser spine surgeons for the treatment of several degenerative spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: laser spine surgeons