A procedure to treat degenerative disc disease is rarely necessary. However, a small percentage of patients may not find any relief from their symptoms, even after several weeks or months of conservative (nonsurgical) treatments. Common conservative therapies include pain medication, physical therapy, hot/cold therapy, and anti-inflammatory drugs, among others.

While many people whose intervertebral discs show signs of degeneration may not necessarily experience symptoms, it is likely that an individual will develop mild to severe discomfort if a disc deteriorates to the point of rupturing or bulging past its normal boundary, which are conditions known as herniated and bulging discs, respectively. If the extruded disc material leaks into the spinal column and comes into contact with the spinal cord or a nerve root, symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness may radiate into the arms or legs.

When symptoms persist or become debilitating, even after conservative treatment, a doctor may recommend surgical intervention. Depending on the severity of the condition and the patient’s general level of health, there may be several surgical options available, such as an open spine surgery or a minimally invasive procedure.

Open Spine Surgery

A complete discectomy is one open back or neck procedure that may be suggested in cases of degenerative disc disease. This surgery will typically involve:

– A large incision made in the neck, back, abdomen, or throat

– Dissection of soft tissues to access the degenerated disc

– Possible removal of vertebral bone in order to access the degenerated disc

– Removal of a the entire degenerated disc, as well as inflamed or calcified ligaments

Intervertebral discs are sandwiched between individual vertebrae, and removing one that is damaged can significantly affect the stability of the remaining spinal components. For this reason, an open spine discectomy is usually paired with another procedure, called a spinal fusion.

Spinal fusion requires the use of a bone graft, which is inserted into the space where the disc once was located. The bone graft should bond to the existing vertebrae, helping to solidify or fuse that segment into one solid piece of bone. Bone material may be harvested from another area of the body from the patient undergoing fusion, which is called an autograft. In other cases, an allograft (cadaver bone) or synthetic bone materials could be used, depending on the overall procedure and a patient’s condition. Once the bone graft is implanted, the vertebrae will likely need further stabilization in the form of rods, screws, plates, or other hardware to immobilize the affected segment. Spinal fusion permanently fuses vertebrae together, an d spinal flexibility will be reduced in the affected area.

Minimally Invasive Alternatives

Some patients may be candidates for an endoscopic degenerative disc disease procedure, which is a minimally invasive alternative to open spine surgery. While open spine surgery and endoscopic spine surgery both aim to relieve pressure placed on neural components by a bulging or herniated disc, an endoscopic discectomy is an entirely different approach and only requires:

– A small incision in the neck or back near the affected disc

– The insertion of a series of telescoping tubes into the incision, which gently push apart musculature and other soft tissues; no dissection of soft tissues is required

– The use of an endoscope (camera), tiny surgical tools, and a laser, which are funneled through the tubes to the affected disc

– The excision of only the portion of disc material that is compressing a nerve, not the entire disc

Undergoing an endoscopic degenerative disc disease procedure eliminates the need for spinal fusion, and patients will often enjoy a much faster and less arduous recovery with this type of procedure versus an open spine surgery.

Do Your Research

It’s incredibly important for a patient considering a degenerative disc disease procedure to thoroughly research each of his or her surgical options and carefully weigh the risks and advantages of every possibility. Additionally, obtaining a second or even third opinion from different spine specialists prior to undergoing surgery will not only help confirm the initial diagnosis, but also ensure that every nonsurgical treatment has been exhausted.

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 the treatment of degenerative disc disease and several other spinal conditions.

Patrick Foote is the Director of eBusiness at Laser Spine Institute. Laser Spine Institute specializes in safe and effective outpatient degenerative disc disease procedures and procedures for other conditions. http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/back_problems/degenerative_disc_disease/procedure/

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 the treatment of degenerative disc disease and several other spinal conditions.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: degenerative disc disease procedure