Spine stabilization is a type of surgical procedure that you may have heard about if you suffer from a degenerative spine condition and have been unable to manage your symptoms with conservative (nonsurgical) treatments. If this is a surgery that you are considering, it is in your best interest to learn as much as you can about the different spine stabilization procedures that are available so you can make the best choice possible. Keep in mind that spinal fusion and stabilization are a topic of debate in the medical community because some physicians feel these surgeries are overused, so obtaining multiple opinions from various spine specialists is essential.

Conditions that May Require Surgical Stabilization

There are a variety of spine conditions that may compromise the stability of the cervical spine (neck) or lumbar spine (lower back) and merit a spine stabilization procedure, including:

– Bulging discs – a weakened disc that has protruded beyond its normal boundary

– Herniated discs – a disc that has developed a tear in its outer wall

– Spinal stenosis – a narrowed area of the spinal canal

– Spondylolisthesis – a vertebra that has slipped forward over the vertebra beneath it

– Spine fractures – a break in one of the bony vertebrae of the spine

– Sciatica – symptoms caused by compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower back

– Scoliosis – abnormal side-to-side curvature of the spine

The above conditions may involve instability and/or neural compression caused by deteriorated or damaged bone or tissue. While there are minimally invasive procedures that can address these issues without the need for stabilization, a significant portion of bone or an entire intervertebral disc may need to be removed in severe cases of spinal degeneration, which would compromise the stability of the spine and merit some form of stabilization.

Which Procedure is Right for Me?

There are generally two types of stabilization procedures available: open spine surgery and endoscopic spinal stabilization. While both surgeries aim to restore functionality and stability to the spine after the removal of bone or disc material, they take very different approaches. Open back or neck surgery involves a large incision in the neck, throat, back, or abdomen and the full exposure of the area of the spine that needs to be stabilized. Due to the highly invasive nature of this surgery, postoperative rehabilitation can be long and painful. A minimally invasive procedure, on the other hand, requires only a small incision. A series of tubes is inserted into the spine and surgical tools such as an endoscope are funneled to the site of nerve compression. The disc material or bone spurs causing neural compression are removed, and then a bone graft, artificial disc, or another stabilizing mechanism is inserted into the spinal column.

Risks Involved in Spine Stabilization Surgery

As with any surgery, risks are involved with open spine and endoscopic procedures. However, there are increased risks of infection, scarring, blood loss, and postoperative pain with an open spine procedure. The endoscopic stabilization procedure offers other advantages as well, including no overnight hospitalization and a quicker recovery time. This outpatient procedure offers many patients a safe and effective alternative to a highly invasive open spine surgery, but not all individuals will be candidates for a minimally invasive surgery. Additionally, since surgery should only be considered as a last resort treatment option, be sure that you have tried a wide range of nonsurgical options before consenting to any type of procedure. Targeted pain management techniques, such as cortisone injections, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and pharmacological therapies, combined with physical therapy and behavior modification, may be able to help you manage your symptoms and eliminate the need for surgery.

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 spine stabilization procedures, as well as several other outpatient endoscopic surgeries for the treatment of 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 spine stabilization procedures. http://news.yahoo.com/laser-spine-institute-launches-innovative-124500373.html

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 spine stabilization procedures, as well as several other outpatient endoscopic surgeries for the treatment of degenerative spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: spine stabilization