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About Spine Surgery
Spine surgery is a procedure to expose the anatomy of the spinal structure and treat it for a range of conditions and disorders. Spinal surgery is often indicated as a last resort when non-surgical alternatives such as physical activity, physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory and other medications have failed to be effective.
Spine surgery can be done in a traditional and minimally invasive manner. In a traditional (open) spine surgery, the entire spinal curvature or most of it is exposed for treatment while a minimal access surgery allows a surgeon to avoid operating on the surrounding muscles and tissues. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is preferred over conservative surgery as it offers a range of benefits including shorter hospitalisation, faster recovery, less risk of infections, less bleeding and less postoperative pain.
Indications of Spine Surgery
The objective of spine surgery is the stabilisation of injuries, prevention of additional injuries, alleviating symptoms, correction of deformities and early mobilisation among others. Spinal surgery may be indicated for the treatment of the following conditions:
Neck and back injuries
Neck and back injuries that are not improving with medicinal treatments or physiotherapy and turning into chronic problems can be treated with spinal surgery. However, only your healthcare provider will determine if you are in need of surgery or not.Spinal Deformities
Spinal deformity is an abnormal alignment or curvature in the spinal vertebral column that can be present from birth or acquired as a result of trauma or accidents. Spine surgery can effectively correct these deformities to avoid long-term impacts. Common spine deformities include lordosis, kyphosis and scoliosis.
Herniated Discs
A disc is a soft jelly-like rubbery centre that is present between each of the bones in the vertebral column of the spine. Discs are encased in a tougher exterior. When this disc pushes through its tough exteriors, the condition is known as herniated discs or slipped discs.Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition that causes the narrowing of the spaces present between your spine. As a result of this narrowing, there can be increased pressure on the nerves travelling through the spine leading to pain, tingling, muscle weakness and numbing.Sciatica
Sciatic is a nerve that runs down from the lower back to one or both of your legs. Sciatica is a condition that causes pain in this nerve as a result of pressure, pain or irritation.Degenerative Disc Diseases
Degenerative disc diseases cause the discs in the spinal column to break down or deteriorate as a result of ageing. This disease is also called osteoarthritis of the spine.Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that causes a sideways curvature of the spine. It mostly presents during the growth spurt of puberty.Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a disorder of the spine that occurs when one of the bones in your vertebrae slips out of its original position and onto the bone below it. This condition is highly common in sports activities such as gymnastics and football.Vertebral Compression Fracture
Vertebral compression fractures are fractures of the vertebrae or bones in the spine. It usually occurs as a result of conditions like osteoporosis. In this condition, small breaks or cracks appear on the vertebrae.Spinal Infections
Spinal infections are rare and can be caused by fungi, viruses and bacteria. Spinal infections can cause fever, weight loss, muscle spasms, and leg and arm pain among other symptoms.Spinal Tumours
Spinal tumours can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). These tumours are abnormal masses of tissue that collect inside or around the spinal cord.Types of Spine Surgery
There are several different types of spine surgeries and procedures. The type of spine surgery depends upon the patient’s condition, the severity of symptoms, the cause of the condition, the patient’s overall health, age and other facts. Common types of spine surgery include:
Discectomy
A discectomy is a surgical technique used to remove the spinal disc or a portion of the disc. Discectomy is the recommended surgery for the treatment of herniated discs. A discectomy can be minimally invasive (removing just a portion of the disc) or invasive (removing the entire disc). The procedure typically involves the following steps:- Anesthesia
- Incision
- Removing the Disc
- Closing the Incision
Laminectomy
Laminectomy is a surgical procedure for the treatment of various types of spinal conditions including spinal bone fracture, bone spurs, arthritis, spinal stenosis, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and others. Laminectomy involves the removal of lamina to release pressure on the nerves and spinal cord. Laminectomy surgery involves:- Anesthesia
- Incision
- Muscle Separation
- Removing the Lamina
- Closing the Incision
Spinal Fusion
This procedure is used to treat scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal infections, pinched nerve tumours, and other related conditions. Two or more vertebrae (spinal bones) are joined/fused during surgery to strengthen the spinal structure. Following spinal fusion surgery recovery could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. The procedure involves:- Anesthesia
- Incision
- Muscle separation
- Disk Removal
- Bone or Material Placement
- Bone Stabilization
- Closure
Artificial Disc Replacement
Artificial disc replacement surgery involves replacing worn or damaged disc joints with artificial ones. Individuals with osteoporosis, unstable spine or neuromuscular condition may require artificial disc replacement. Recovery from artificial disc replacement surgery may take up to four to six months. Disc replacement surgery involves the following steps:- Anesthesia
- Incision
- Removal of Damaged Disc
- Implantation of Artificial Disc
- Closure
Microdiscectomy
Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves by removing the herniated disc or a part of the herniated disc. Individuals may take up to four to six weeks to recover from microdiscectomy surgery and require a course of physical therapy. The surgical procedure involves:- Anesthesia
- Incision
- Laminotomy
- Disc Removal
- Closure
Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of compression fractures of the spine. Additionally, vertebroplasty is the recommended surgery for the treatment of vertebral tumours and malignant tumours. Following surgery, you might need to take a 24-hour rest before getting back to your normal schedule and avoiding physically demanding activities. The full recovery after vertebroplasty surgery takes up to 6 weeks. The minimally invasive surgery involves:- Anesthesia
- Needle Insertion
- Bone Cement Injection
- X-ray or CT scan
- Bandaging
- Observation
What to Expect
Your healthcare provider will first evaluate your condition. You can expect to undergo certain investigations and tests such as X-rays, MRI scans, laboratory tests and more. After your investigations, your healthcare provider will give you mandatory instructions prior to surgery. Depending on the type of your condition, your symptoms and the type of your surgery, your surgeon will proceed with the treatment. Your recovery will, similarly, depend upon your treatment and type of surgery. You should strictly adhere to your surgeon’s instructions to recover fully and rapidly.
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FAQs
How long does spine surgery take?
The time taken to perform spine surgery depends upon the type of surgery and the approach used (open or minimally invasive).
What does the recovery of spine surgery look like?
Your recovery will depend upon your condition, the severity of your symptoms and the type of surgery. You can expect to recover in nearly 4-6 months post your surgery.
Can you walk after spine surgery?
Walking after spine surgery is an important aspect. However, only your surgeon can help identify when you should start walking and at what pace.
