Laser spine surgery has become more firmly established in recent years as an acceptable alternative to the traditional form of spine surgery, open back or neck spinal fusion. While spinal fusion remains an important and useful path to long-term relief for many people suffering from symptoms related to spinal nerve compression, tens of thousands of patients have turned to the minimally invasive “laser” option over the past decade. This is primarily because spine surgery performed through an endoscope using lasers carries far less risk and fewer potential side effects than traditional open back or neck surgery, and is considered by many to be just as effective – more effective, in some cases – than open spine surgery and spinal fusion for alleviating back or neck pain and other symptoms.

Open Back Surgery – What Could Go Wrong?

Any study of laser spine surgery begins with a consideration of the potential drawbacks and risks of open spine surgery. That’s because endoscopic laser-assisted back and neck surgery evolved largely as a response to the highly invasive nature of open back and neck surgery. What, then, are the risks and potential side effects of open back surgery, which are classified generally as failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS)? The characteristics and causes of FBSS include:

– Fusion failure – It may be that the stabilizing hardware inserted into the spine to immobilize a particular vertebral segment suffers a malfunction. The body might also reject the bone graft implanted within the vertebral space in order to further stabilize the segment.

– Lateral stenosis – The removal of the lamina or other portions of the spinal anatomy might not actually address the true cause of the nerve compression. In some cases, the nerve compression takes place elsewhere within the spine, often within the narrow channels known as foramina. These channels are located on either side of the vertebra (laterally) and allow for the passage of nerve roots away from and back to the spinal cord.

– Transitional segment – Permanent fusion of one pair of vertebrae may add more stress to those adjacent. FBSS may arise in the form of additional problems at a level above or below the fused segment.

– Improper diagnosis – This includes misdiagnosing lateral stenosis, which sometimes goes unrecognized. Even though some of the nerve compression symptoms might be addressed by the surgery, it may be that other symptoms are caused by a different degenerative spine condition or anatomical anomaly that was missed during diagnosis.

– Surgeon error – Surgical teams naturally take precautions to avoid blood clots and infection, but these conditions remain risks. In addition, one slip could bring a scalpel into contact with a nerve, producing permanent nerve damage.

Why Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is Less Risky

Minimally invasive laser spine surgery is less risky than open spine surgery, in general, for a number reasons. For one thing, the smaller incision involved with laser spine surgery means a lower risk for infection and scarring. For another, because no metal stabilizing hardware or bone graft material is used in most minimally invasive procedures, there is no risk for hardware or bone graft rejection.

In addition, the endoscopic approach of laser spine surgery – which means the use of a thin tube to thread surgical tools directly to the site of the nerve compression – eliminates the need to make a large incision in the neck, throat, abdomen, or back, and dissect muscle tissue, in order to gain access to the spine. This further reduces the potential for infection and allows for faster healing after surgery. Most people who undergo laser spine surgery are able to walk on their own mere hours after the procedure, and many return to regular activity within a month of the surgery. Open back surgery, on the other hand, often requires a six-month period for recuperation and hours of intensive physical therapy each week.

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 laser spine surgery procedures 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 laser spine surgery for the treatment of degenerative spinal conditions. http://www.linkedin.com/company/laser-spine-institute/

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 laser spine surgery procedures for the treatment of several degenerative spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: laser spine surgery