Spinal Treatments
Spinal conditions and their associated pain and symptoms may be initially treated with conservative, often non-surgical treatments, as long as, the symptoms improve or resolve altogether, and the spinal condition doesn’t get worse. These conservative treatments include rest with limited activity, ice or heat, physical therapy, chiropractic treatments, epidural injections for pain management and/or medication among others.
If conservative, non-surgical care doesn’t relive the pain or other symptoms within six months or so, your doctor or spine specialist my recommend a surgical treatment. Here are some of the more common surgical treatments may be recommended.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery is performed from the front of the neck through a horizontal incision. This surgery removes the diseased or injured disc and replaces it with an interbody device that restores the disc height relieving pressure on the nerve and promotes fusion between the vertebrae above and below the interbody device. To secure the new device in place and assist with fusion, screws or a plate may be fixated to the vertebrae above and below the treated disc.
Posterior Cervical Fusion
Posterior cervical fusion surgery is performed from the back of the neck. The goals of this surgery is relieve pressure on the nerves and spinal cord, support fusion and provide stability to the neck or cervical spine with screws and rods.
Since the surgery is performed from an incision in the back of the neck, the patient lies face down on the surgical table. Depending where the nerve root and/or spinal cord is pinched or compressed, the surgeon may remove the lamina, a bony structure that covers the spinal cord and/or bone spurs or overgrowths. Once the compression is relieved, the spine surgeon will use screws and rods to fixate or hold the spine so fusion can happen or to provide stability to the spine.
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
An anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery is performed through an incision in the front of the abdomen or stomach to gain access to the spine. This surgery removes the diseased or injured disc and replaces it with an interbody device that restores the disc height relieving pressure on the nerve and promotes fusion between the vertebrae above and below the interbody device. To secure the new interbody device in place and assist with achieving fusion, screws or a plate may be fixated to the vertebrae above and below the treated disc.
Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) or Transforaminal Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
Posterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery is performed from the back of the lumbar or lower spine. This surgery removes the diseased or injured disc and replaces it with an interbody device that restores the disc height relieving pressure on the nerve and promotes fusion between the vertebrae above and below the interbody device. To secure the new interbody device in place, assist with achieving fusion and/or to stabilize the spine, screws and rods may be fixated to the vertebrae above and below the treated disc.
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