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Some common
conditions that sometimes require
treatment are:
1) Cervical or lumbar herniated
(ruptured or slipped) disk.
This is a condition where the disk
material between two vertebrae has
ballooned out of its normal position,
causing compression or pressure
on the nerve. In the case of herniated
cervical discs, there may be pain
and/or numbness/tingling in your
neck and/or arm(s) as well as weakness
of the arms. In the case of lumbar
herniated disc, there may be similar
symptoms in your low back and legs.
2) Cervical or lumbar osteophyte
(bony spur).
This is a condition in which calcium
built up on the bony structure of
the cervical or lumbar spine. This
is a normal aging process. However,
in some instances, the calcium build
up, or spur, may impinge upon a
nerve or nerve root causing pain
and discomfort. This can be manifested
as weakness or numbness in the arm(s)
or leg(s) as well.
3) Cervical or lumbar stenosis/spondylosis.
This is a condition in which calcium
builds up around the canal, which
houses the spinal cord (or main
nerve) or nerve roots. This too
is normal aging or arthritis in
the cervical spine; however, if
pressure is on the spinal cord,
numbness and weakness in the legs
can occur. In the cervical spine,
if this condition is left untreated,
it can cause paralysis. In the lumbar
spine, is condition generally produces
numbness, pain, and/or weakness
in the legs.
For more information on specific
spinal disorders, please visit the
following sites by clicking on the
link:
North
American Spine Society
Spine
Universe
All
about back and neck pain
Some conditions that may
occasionally require complex spinal
surgery include the following:
1) Recurrent lumbar herniated
(ruptured or slipped) disk.
This is a condition where the disk
material between two vertebrae has
ballooned out of its normal position
again, causing compression or pressure
on the nerve. This condition may
cause pain and/or numbness/tingling
in your low back and/or leg(s) as
well as weakness of the legs.
2) Lumbar instability.
This is a condition where, for a
variety of reasons, the spine is
felt to be unstable. This may be
congenital (you were born with it),
or may be the result of previous
surgery, an accident, a tumor, an
infection, or another reason.
3) Lumbar spondylolithesis.
This is a condition in which one
vertebra slips forward on a vertebra
next to it. This condition may cause
pain and/or numbness/tingling in
your low back and/or leg(s) as well
as weakness of the legs. This also
has a variety of causes, and is
usually treated with fusion.
4) Miscellaneous causes.
There are a variety of other conditions
that may require a fusion, such
as removal of spinal tumors, misalignment
of the spine, segmental instability,
and painful disc disease (where
the pain generator is felt to be
in the disc). The indications
for surgery include severe incapacitating
lower extremity (buttocks, thigh,
leg, or foot) pain, the presence
of a neurological deficit (meaning
either lower extremity weakness
or unpleasant numbness or tingling),
intractable low back pain, recurrent
disc herniations, failed prior lumbar
surgery, spondylolisthesis (slipped
vertebra), and/or lumbar spinal
instability. Many of these complaints
often benefit from conservative
management and because of this,
a thorough trial of conservative
management is often indicated.
For more information on specific
spinal disorders, please visit the
following sites by clicking on the
link:
North
American Spine Society
Spine
Universe
All
about back and neck pain
Minimally invasive should
never mean minimally effective.
The type of minimally invasive surgery
varies depending on the goal of
surgery, and should be compared
to a standard open operation in
terms of success rate and patient
satisfaction. Examples of minimally
invasive surgery include percutaneous
pedicle screw placement in the lumbar
spine (Sextant pedicle screws),
and a unilateral muscle splitting
approach and transforaminal lumbar
interbody fusion in the lumbar spine.
There are also minimally invasive
bone graft harvesting techniques
that are often employed when your
own bone is needed for fusion, and
in some cases Infuse can be used
to completely eliminate the need
for harvesting your own bone.
For
more information on specific spinal
disorders, please visit the following
sites by clicking on the link:
North
American Spine Society
Spine
Universe
All
about back and neck pain
Although these web site have some
commercial support, they are overall
very comprehensive, and covers all
aspects of spinal disorders.
1. http://www.spineuniverse.com
2. http://www.allaboutbackandneckpain.com/
3. http://www.spine-dr.com/site/home.html
4. http://www.spine-dr.com/site/exercise/exercise.html
5. http://www.spine-dr.com/site/exercise/therapy_article1.html
6. http://www.spine-dr.com/site/exercise/fitness_article3.html
7. http://www.kyphon.com/
8. http://www.spine-health.com/topics/surg/s00.html
9. http://www.neurosurgeon.org/membership/practiceMgmt/
pdf/20040418_SpineAnatomyandSpineGeneral.pdf
10.The
North American Spine Society
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