Spinal stenosis surgery is not necessary for most people. Conservative, or non-invasive, treatments are usually able to provide pain relief for the symptoms associated with the condition. Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing or blocking of the spinal canal, which can lead to the compression of the spinal cord or a nerve root. This nerve compression can cause symptoms of pain, tingling, weakness, spasms, cramping, and numbness. Sometimes, non-invasive treatments cannot alleviate these symptoms, even after several weeks or months. It is at this point that patients are typically asked to consider surgery.

Types of Spinal Stenosis Surgery

Surgical treatment of spinal stenosis will typically focus on nerve decompression procedures, such as:

– A laminectomy – A procedure that removes all of one, or both, laminae on a vertebra. The laminae form a protective arch around the posterior (back) side of the spinal cord.

– A laminotomy – This procedure involves the removal of a small portion of a lamina.

– A foraminotomy – A foraminotomy removes a small amount of the vertebral bone or other tissues that surrounds or blocks a foramen. The foramina are the canals through which nerve roots pass as they branch off the spinal cord.

Although spinal fusion is not a decompression surgery, it is often used in conjunction with surgeries that remove components of the spine. Fusion also can be used to help correct spinal stenosis. The procedure uses bone grafts, support cages, screws, and rods to fuse two or more vertebrae together. As a spinal stenosis surgery option, spinal fusion is typically performed in conjunction with a laminectomy or laminotomy, in order to provide additional spinal support.

Potential Risks

Any invasive surgery has its risks, particularly if performed on the spine. Open back or neck spinal stenosis surgery may carry a significant risk of bleeding and infection. Nervous system problems and associated issues might also develop after surgery if any nerve damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots occurs during the procedure. Hardware rejection is a risk with spinal fusion procedures. Additionally, there is always a chance for paralysis or death when undergoing a spinal surgery, although both are rare occurrences.

In Conclusion

Most cases of spinal stenosis can be addressed with conservative treatment options such as pain medication, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and cortisone injections. Only a small percentage of spinal stenosis patients opt for some type of elective surgery to treat their spinal stenosis symptoms.

Rarely, however, spinal stenosis can progress into a serious condition. One of the more serious complications of spinal stenosis is a condition called cauda equina syndrome, which is the compression of the bundle of nerve fibers (called the cauda equina) that extends off the bottom of the spinal cord. Cauda equina syndrome requires emergency surgery; otherwise, the compression of the cauda equina nerves could lead to permanent paralysis and incontinence. If you experience incontinence (a loss of urinary or bowel control) or difficulty walking, this could be a sign of cauda equina syndrome and you should seek immediate emergency care.

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: Medical Business
Keywords: Spinal stenosis