Spine surgery has continued to undergo numerous improvements in a bid to make it both effective and safe. Some of the conditions that may require this form of intervention include spinal stenosis (narrowing), intervertebral disc prolapse, and body spurs causing compression of spinal nerves. Less invasive techniques are now preferred over the traditional more open methods. If they intend to undergo minimally invasive spine surgery long island residents need to understand a number of things first.
A proper diagnosis is essential before the operation can be considered. Your doctor will need to take your history which will help them determine the nature and magnitude of your problem. Physical examination is also often necessary. The most useful diagnostic tests are MRI and CT scan images of the spine. The CT scan will help in diagnosis bony problems while the MRI will be the preferred mode if the spinal cord is suspected to be compressed.
It is important that you discuss with your doctor the merits and demerits of the available options. You should make a section to undergo the surgery only after you have understood what is involved. Preparing for the procedure is the same as any other operation. For instance, one has to stop smoking for sometime. There may be a need to also discontinue the use of some potentially harmful drugs such as blood thinners.
The main characteristic of minimally invasive operations is that very small incisions are made. They, therefore, results in less damage to muscle. The main forms of procedures that are undertaken are compression and fusion. Decompression is done when there is a need to minimize compression of spinal nerves. This can be achieved by removing portions of bone or an intervertebral disc.
Decompression procedures are indicated when a structure is compressing the spinal cord or the spinal nerve roots. The surgeon may have to remove an intervertebral disc or a bone fragment. Spinal fusion is needed in case of unstable joints. It involves joining of several vertebral bodies.
Depending on the site of the problem and its magnitude, you may be put under regional or general anaesthesia. Regional anaesthesia is mostly used when the affected area is lower down the spine (such as the lumber or sacral regions). With this from of anaesthesia, you will be awake throughout but you will not feel the area of your waist downwards. General anaesthesia, on the other hand, means that one is put to sleep for the entire duration.
While this operation is fairly safe, it is not devoid of complications. The chances of getting these complications is, however, much lower than with the open technique. Pain is experienced by almost all candidates of the operation but the degree is variable. Fortunately, the pain is minimal and reduces progressively over time except in a few instances. Infections are also a possibility and have to be prevented by use of prophylactic antibiotics. Others include excessive bleeding and nerve injuries.
The time required for a patient to recover from the effects of the operation greatly varies. It is dependent on the exact type of surgery that was done. On average, however, this time is a lot less when compared to the traditional technique. Most of the patients will be allowed home on the same day of the operation. Those who are admitted for observation leave within two days. With the open technique, the average is about five days.
A proper diagnosis is essential before the operation can be considered. Your doctor will need to take your history which will help them determine the nature and magnitude of your problem. Physical examination is also often necessary. The most useful diagnostic tests are MRI and CT scan images of the spine. The CT scan will help in diagnosis bony problems while the MRI will be the preferred mode if the spinal cord is suspected to be compressed.
It is important that you discuss with your doctor the merits and demerits of the available options. You should make a section to undergo the surgery only after you have understood what is involved. Preparing for the procedure is the same as any other operation. For instance, one has to stop smoking for sometime. There may be a need to also discontinue the use of some potentially harmful drugs such as blood thinners.
The main characteristic of minimally invasive operations is that very small incisions are made. They, therefore, results in less damage to muscle. The main forms of procedures that are undertaken are compression and fusion. Decompression is done when there is a need to minimize compression of spinal nerves. This can be achieved by removing portions of bone or an intervertebral disc.
Decompression procedures are indicated when a structure is compressing the spinal cord or the spinal nerve roots. The surgeon may have to remove an intervertebral disc or a bone fragment. Spinal fusion is needed in case of unstable joints. It involves joining of several vertebral bodies.
Depending on the site of the problem and its magnitude, you may be put under regional or general anaesthesia. Regional anaesthesia is mostly used when the affected area is lower down the spine (such as the lumber or sacral regions). With this from of anaesthesia, you will be awake throughout but you will not feel the area of your waist downwards. General anaesthesia, on the other hand, means that one is put to sleep for the entire duration.
While this operation is fairly safe, it is not devoid of complications. The chances of getting these complications is, however, much lower than with the open technique. Pain is experienced by almost all candidates of the operation but the degree is variable. Fortunately, the pain is minimal and reduces progressively over time except in a few instances. Infections are also a possibility and have to be prevented by use of prophylactic antibiotics. Others include excessive bleeding and nerve injuries.
The time required for a patient to recover from the effects of the operation greatly varies. It is dependent on the exact type of surgery that was done. On average, however, this time is a lot less when compared to the traditional technique. Most of the patients will be allowed home on the same day of the operation. Those who are admitted for observation leave within two days. With the open technique, the average is about five days.
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