Spine Treatment

ALIF Surgery

ALIF, or anterior lumbar interbody fusion, is an approach to spinal fusion surgery in which the neurosurgeon accesses and repairs the lower (lumbar) spine from the front (anterior) of the patient’s body.
Spinal fusion is performed to join together two or more bones in the spine, called vertebrae, eliminating movement between them. This is done by removing the intervertebral disc between the two vertebrae, which normally enables the spine to bend and rotate, and inserting a bone graft in its place.
The bone graft heals over several months, fusing the vertebrae together and stabilizing the spine. The anterior approach allows the surgeon to directly access the spine without cutting through muscle tissue in the patient’s back.
The neurosurgeon makes an incision in the abdomen and moves blood vessels and organs aside to reach the spine. This approach can be performed as an open surgery or a less invasive surgery, depending on the patient’s condition and medical history.

Am I a good candidate for ALIF Spinal Fusion Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for spinal fusion if you have instability, weakness, or pain caused by one of the previously listed conditions and have already tried nonsurgical treatments.
Spinal fusion changes the normal movement of the spine, which may accelerate wear and tear of the vertebral joints adjacent to the fused vertebrae.

What is ALIF Surgery used for?

  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Herniated disc
  • Fractures to the vertebrae
  • Spinal deformities, such as scoliosis or kyphosis
  • Spinal weakness or instability, which may be caused by infections or tumors
  • Spondylolisthesis, a condition in which on vertebra slips forward on top of another

Spine Treatment

Artificial Disc Replacement

Artificial disc surgery is an alternative to spinal fusion for the treatment of instability and painful degeneration of the spine. In a spinal fusion, two or more bones in the spine (vertebrae) are fused together – usually with metal plates and screws – eliminating motion between them.
In artificial disc surgery, the damaged disc is replaced with a prosthetic disc, which allows full range of motion of the spine while still ensuring stability and reducing pain.

Am I a good candidate for an Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for artificial disc surgery if you have back or neck pain from a degenerated disc, and if nonsurgical treatments are not working.

What is Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery used for?

  • Artificial disc surgery is used to treat discs in the spine that are damaged due to degeneration or injury.

Spine Treatment

Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Carpal tunnel surgery is a procedure in which the carpal tunnel ligament in the wrist is cut to relieve pressure on the median nerve, which provides sensation and motor control to the hand.
Carpal tunnel release may be done through open or endoscopic surgery. In endoscopic surgery, a tube containing a small camera is inserted into a small incision to guide the surgeon during the procedure.

Am I a good candidate for Carpal Tunnel Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for carpal tunnel surgery if you have symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome that have lasted six months or longer and have not improved with nonsurgical treatments. The procedure is done with local anesthesia and does not require an overnight hospital stay.

What is Carpal Tunnel Surgery used for?

  • Carpal tunnel surgery is used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome

Spine Treatment

Cervical Spine Surgery

The cervical spine is the portion of the spinal that makes up the neck. It consists of seven bones—called vertebrae—separated from one another by intervertebral discs. Pressure on or damage to the spinal cord in the area of the cervical spine can cause serious problems because signals from the brain to the rest of the body can be interrupted permanently.
Damage to these nerves can compromise the function of many important organs, as well as the function of the arms and legs. Cervical spine surgery can be used to relieve pressure placed on a nerve root by a damaged or abnormal component of the spine, usually a disc or vertebra.
It can also be used to correct fractures or dislocations of the bones, ligaments, and tendons that protect and stabilize the spinal cord.

Am I a good candidate for Cervical Spine Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for cervical spine surgery if you have progressive neurological symptoms involving the arms or legs, difficulty with balance or walking and if conservative therapy is not helping.

What is Cervical Spine Surgery used for?

  • Degenerative disorders
  • Cervical deformity
  • Traumatic injury
  • Tumors of the spine
  • Dislocation and instability of the vertebrae

Spine Treatment

Craniovertebral Junction Surgery

Craniocervical junction surgery is an operation performed on the bones in the junction between the skull and the spine. The craniocervical junction includes the bone that forms the base of the skull, called the occipital bone, and the first two bones in the spine, called the atlas and the axis.

Am I a good candidate for Craniovertebral Junction Surgery?

You may be a candidate for surgery if you have had a traumatic injury to your craniocervical junction or if you have a disease that affects it. Not all disorders of the craniocervical junction require surgery to correct, and your neurosurgeon will be able to help you decide between surgery and more conservative measures.

What is Craniovertebral Junction Surgery used for?

  • Deformities of the upper neck
  • Disorders affecting opening at the occipital bone
  • Bone structures injuries
  • Injuries to the ligaments

Spine Treatment

Kyphoplasty Surgery

Kyphoplasty surgery is a procedure used to treat compression fractures in the spine.
During the procedure, a balloon is inserted into the spine and inflated to restore the height of the vertebrae before special cement is injected into the fracture to stabilize the spine, restoring mobility and relieving back pain.
X-rays are used during kyphoplasty to help the surgeon position the balloon, needle, and cement in a position to promote optimal healing and recovery.

Am I a good candidate for Kyphoplasty Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for kyphoplasty if other treatments have failed and your fractured vertebra is causing severe pain, immobility, or more serious complications.
Kyphoplasty is an outpatient procedure. Either local or general anesthesia is used to keep you comfortable during the procedure.

What is Kyphoplasty Surgery used for?

  • Fractures causing kyphosis (abnormal forward curvature of the spine)
  • To stop pain caused by spinal fracture

Spine Treatment

Lumbar Spine Surgery

Lumbar decompression surgery is a type of surgery used to treat compressed nerves in the lower (lumbar) spine. The surgery aims to improve symptoms such as persistent pain and numbness in the legs caused by pressure on the nerves in the spine.
It is sometimes used when problems with the vertebrae that make up the lumbar spine cause pain, numbness, or other symptoms.

Am I a good candidate for Lumbar Spine Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for lumbar spine surgery if a specific anatomical defect causing your problems has been identified, more conservative forms of treatment such as physical therapy and medication have failed to relieve your symptoms, and you are otherwise in reasonably good health.

What is Lumbar Spine Surgery used for?

  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Herniated, ruptured, or bulging discs
  • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
  • Spinal fracture
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Spine and spinal cord tumors
  • Vascular disorders of the spinal cord

Spine Treatment

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) allows surgeons to treat spinal disorders and injuries using specialized instruments and precision techniques.
Benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery over open surgery may include reduced pain, less scarring, and faster recovery.

Am I a good candidate for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for minimally invasive spine surgery if you have a spinal disorder that cannot be treated without surgery. Your doctor will recommend a treatment based on your particular spinal disorder, medical history, age, and overall health.

What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery used for?

  • Tumors
  • Herniated discs
  • Spinal trauma
  • Spinal deformities, such as scoliosis
  • Spinal compression
  • Spinal instability
  • Degenerative spinal disease
  • Congenital spinal anomalies

Spine Treatment

OLIF Surgery

OLIF, or oblique lateral interbody fusion, is a less invasive approach to spinal fusion surgery in which the neurosurgeon accesses and repairs the lower (lumbar) spine from the front and side of the body (passing in a trajectory about halfway between the middle of the stomach and the side of the body).
Spinal fusion is performed to join together two or more bones of the spine, called vertebrae, eliminating movement between them. This is done by removing the intervertebral disc between the two vertebrae, which normally enables the spine to bend and rotate, and inserting a bone graft in its place.
The bone graft heals over several months, fusing the vertebrae together and stabilizing the spine.
During an OLIF procedure, the surgeon uses a corridor between the psoas muscle and the peritoneum to access the spine. The psoas muscles connect the lower back to the thighs and enable movement and flexibility of the back, pelvis, legs, and hips. The peritoneum is the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.

Am I a good candidate for OLIF Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for spinal fusion if you have instability, weakness, or pain caused by one of the previously listed conditions and have already tried nonsurgical treatments.
Spinal fusion changes the normal movement of the spine, which may accelerate wear and tear of the vertebral joints adjacent to the fused vertebrae.

What is OLIF Surgery used for?

  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Herniated disc
  • Fractures to the vertebrae
  • Spinal deformities, such as scoliosis or kyphosis
  • Spinal weakness or instability
  • Spondylolisthesis

Spine Treatment

Peripheral Nerve Surgery

Peripheral nerve surgery is used to improve function and minimize pain and disability in people with peripheral nerve disorders, such as acute nerve injuries, entrapment neuropathies, and nerve sheath tumors. It involves rerouting healthy nerves to take over the function of the nerves affected by your injury, disease, or condition.
The peripheral nerves link the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body. Peripheral nerve disorders can disrupt messages from the brain to the rest of the body and can affect one nerve or many nerves.

Am I a good candidate for Peripheral Nerve Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for Cervical spine surgery if you have progressive neurological symptoms involving the arms or legs, difficulty with balance or walking and if conservative therapy is not helping.
Peripheral nerve surgery can be used to treat more than 100 different injuries, diseases, or conditions.

What is Peripheral Nerve Surgery used for?

  • Traumatic nerve injury
  • Spinal accessory nerve injury
  • Brachial plexus injury
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Ulnar nerve neuropathy
  • Bernhard-Roth syndrome
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Foot drop injury
  • Schwannoma
  • Neurofibroma

Spine Treatment

PLIF Surgery

PLIF surgery, or posterior lumbar interbody fusion, is an approach to spinal fusion surgery in which the neurosurgeon accesses and repairs the lower (lumbar) spine from the back (posterior) of the patient’s body.
Spinal fusion is performed to join together two or more bones of the spine, called vertebrae, eliminating movement between them. This is done by removing the intervertebral disc between the two vertebrae, which normally enables the spine to bend and rotate, and inserting a bone graft in its place. The bone graft heals over several months, fusing the vertebrae together and stabilizing the spine.
PLIF can be done as a traditional open surgery or as a less minimally invasive surgery, depending on the patient’s condition and medical history.

Am I a good candidate for PLIF Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for spinal fusion if you have instability, weakness, or pain caused by one of the previously listed conditions and have already tried nonsurgical treatments.
Spinal fusion changes the normal movement of the spine, which may accelerate wear and tear of the vertebral joints adjacent to the fused vertebrae.

What is PLIF Surgery used for?

  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Herniated disc
  • Fractures to the vertebrae
  • Spinal deformities
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Spinal weakness or instability

Spine Treatment

Spinal Cord Stimulator

Many problems in the body can cause pain. Pain is perceived and interpreted by the brain. Spinal cord stimulation, also called neurostimulation, relieves pain by blocking nerve signals for pain in the spinal cord before they can be perceived as pain.
Spinal cord stimulation can be an option to treat back pain that does not respond to pain medicine, physical therapy, or surgical procedures.
A spinal cord simulator is a surgically implanted device that sends a mild electrical signal to nerves along the spinal cord. Mild electrical stimulation modifies or blocks nerve activity to reduce the sensation of pain reaching the brain.

Am I a good candidate for Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for a spinal cord stimulator if you have back, spine, or leg pain that has not been relieved by surgery or other treatments, such as medicine or exercise.

What is Spinal Cord Stimulator Surgery used for?

  • Chronic back pain
  • Back pain that doesn’t involve the arms or upper body
  • Chronic leg pain
  • Pain caused by inflammation and swelling of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord

Spine Treatment

Spinal Fusion Surgery

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that is performed to join two or more bones of the spine together, eliminating movement between them. These bones, called vertebrae, are normally separated by intervertebral discs, which enable movement.
To fuse two vertebrae together, a neurosurgeon places a type of bone graft in between them. The bone graft may be taken from another bone in the body (autograft), donated by another person (allograph), or made of synthetic bone-like materials.
The body then heals the bone graft over several months, much like it would heal a bone fracture.
The neurosurgeon may use instrumentation such as metal plates, rods, or screws to hold the vertebrae together while the bone graft heals.

Am I a good candidate for Spinal Fusion Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for spinal fusion if you have spinal instability, weakness, or pain caused by one of the previously listed conditions. However, having one of these conditions does not necessarily mean you will need surgery. More conservative treatments such as physical therapy or pain medication may be effective.

What is Spinal Fusion Surgery used for?

  • Arthritis in the spine, such as spinal stenosis
  • Fractures to the vertebrae
  • Recurrent disc herniation in the lumbar spine
  • Spinal deformities, such as scoliosis or kyphosis
  • Spinal weakness or instability

Spine Treatment

Spinal Epidural Block

Spinal injections can be used both as a tool to diagnose back problems and as a therapy to treat pain in the back, neck, spine, legs, or arms. In both instances, a need is used to inject a specialized substance into the fluid-filled space that surrounds the spinal cord.
When used as a diagnostic tool, a substance called a contrast agent is injected around the spinal cord. The contrast agent helps your neuroradiologist use medical imaging to identify structural problems that can cause pain, numbness, weakness, and other symptoms.
When used as a therapy, medicines are injected to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

Am I a good candidate for Spinal Injections?

You may be a candidate for spinal injections if your doctor feels they may allow you to delay or avoid spine surgery, or if pain medication or physical rehabilitation has not successfully treated your condition.

What is Spinal Injections used for?

  • Inflammation or damage to a nerve
  • Sciatica
  • Spinal stenosis

Spine Treatment

TLIF Surgery

TLIF surgery, or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, is an approach to spinal fusion surgery in which the neurosurgeon accesses the lower spine through the intervertebral foramen.
The intervertebral foramen is the opening between the bones of the spine, called vertebrae, through which nerves leave the spinal cord and en route to other parts of the body.
TLIF is one of several different approaches to spinal fusion surgery. Spinal fusion is performed to join together two or more spinal vertebrae, eliminating movement between them.
This is done by removing the intervertebral disc between the two vertebrae, which normally enables the spine to bend and rotate, and inserting a bone graft in its place.

Am I a good candidate for TLIF Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for spinal fusion if you have instability, weakness, or pain caused by one of the listed conditions and have already tried nonsurgical treatments.

What is TLIF Surgery used for?

  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Herniated disc
  • Fractures to the vertebrae
  • Spinal deformities
  • Spinal weakness or instability
  • Spondylolisthesis

Spine Treatment

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty is a procedure used to treat compression fractures in the spine. In vertebroplasty, special cement is injected into a fractured vertebra to stabilize the spine, restoring mobility and relieving back pain.
People are usually positioned lying in a face down position on a table for vertebroplasty.
X-rays are then used to help the surgeon visualize the area as he or she maneuvers a thin needle into the space of the vertebral fracture and the cement is injected into the damaged area.
The cement takes about 10 minutes to harden, locking the fractured pieces of bone in place and providing stability.

Am I a good candidate for Vertebroplasty?

You may be a good candidate for vertebroplasty if other treatments have failed and your fractured vertebra is causing severe pain, immobility, or more serious complications.

What is Vertebroplasty used for?

  • compression fracturesk

Spine Treatment

XLIF Surgery

XLIF, or extreme lateral interbody fusion, is a minimally invasive approach to spinal fusion surgery in which the neurosurgeon accesses the spine from the side of the patient’s body.
Spinal fusion is performed to join together two or more bones of the spine, called vertebrae, eliminating movement between them.

Am I a good candidate for XLIF Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for XLIF if you have already tried non-surgical treatments.
The location of the vertebrae to be fused will determine which approach is best.

What is XLIF Surgery used for?

  • Degenerative disc disease with instability
  • Herniated disc
  • Low-grade spondylolisthesis
  • Spinal deformities

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