Health Issues Common In Women

4 Common Types Of Spine Surgeries

28 July 2020 by admin

There are many reasons a person might need to undergo spine surgery. Some of the most popular reasons for spine surgery include reducing pain, taking pressure off the nerves, stabilizing the spine, and realigning a crooked spine. The reason for the spine surgery will determine the type of procedure that needs to be performed. Here are four common types of spine surgeries performed by orthopedic surgeons.

1. Artificial Disc Replacement

The spine is made up of bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are stacked on top of each other with discs in between them. These discs are like cushions and allow the vertebrae to move without rubbing against each other. When the disc becomes damaged, it may have to be replaced. This is done with a spine surgery called artificial disc replacement. The artificial disc is usually made of either metal or a combination of metal and plastic.

2. Vertebral Augmentation

A fracture in the vertebra is called a compression fracture. This type of fracture can happen in people with osteoporosis. Trauma to the spine, spinal infections, and tumors in the spine can also cause compression fractures. This type of spine injury is treated with a procedure called vertebral augmentation, of which there are two kinds:

• Vertebroplasty. Bone cement gets injected into the fractured vertebra in order to stabilize it.
• Kyphoplasty. A balloon gets inserted into the fractured vertebra before it is stabilized with bone cement.

Both types of vertebral augmentation procedures have high success rates when it comes to stabilizing the fractured vertebra and reducing pain.

3. Herniated Disc Surgery

A herniated disc is also called a slipped or bulging disc. It occurs when a part of the nucleus of the disc is pushed into the spinal canal. Some common causes of a herniated disc include:

• Lifting incorrectly
• Twisting the spine
• Being overweight

In many cases, a herniated disc is the result of wear and tear on the spine. This condition can be treated with physical therapy or steroid injections. For severe cases, herniated disc surgery may be required. During this procedure, a surgeon removes the damaged disc and fuses the vertebrae together.

4. Spinal Fusion Surgery

This type of spine surgery should only be performed on patients with the following problems:

• Severe back pain due to a degenerative disc
• Abnormal curvature of the spine
• Unstable spine due to infections or tumors
• Fractured vertebrae from a serious injury

The primary goal of spinal fusion is to stabilize the spine. In some cases, an orthopedic surgeon performs spinal fusion following a discectomy or laminectomy.

For more information about spine surgery, contact the staff at a clinic like Town Center Orthopaedic Associates, P.C. near you.  

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