Spinal surgeries address spine issues like bone spurs, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis. Spinal conditions are the leading cause of back pain. Depending on your condition, spinal surgery can be invasive or minimally invasive. A spinal surgery Washington, PA, primarily helps relieve pain and correct spine disorders. In most cases, doctors recommend spinal surgeries when other treatments like pain medications, physical therapy, and injections are ineffective for your spine problem. There are many types of spinal surgeries based on your condition, its cause, and its symptoms. Below are common forms of spinal surgeries.  

Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion involves your surgeon connecting two or more bones in any part of your spine. During the fusion, the surgeon places a bone or a graft in the space between two spinal bones and may use metal plates, screws, or rods to hold them together. The bones fuse gradually and heal as one. Spinal fusion helps improve spine stability, correct an issue, or reduce pain. Surgeons can perform a spinal fusion to correct scoliosis or to stabilize your spine after removing a damaged disc or if you have severe arthritis.

Laminectomy

Laminectomy is a common spinal surgery where your surgeon removes a small part of bone known as lamina from your lower spine. Surgeons usually use it in your lower spine, but it may also benefit your neck or the middle of your back. Laminectomy helps relieve pressure from compressed nerves or the spinal cord, improving function and quality of life. Your doctor can recommend laminectomy to relieve low back pain, bladder or bowel problems, or numbness or tingling resulting from spinal stenosis.

Foraminotomy

Foraminotomy helps relieve pressure on compressed nerves along your spinal column, easing pain. During the surgery, your surgeon widens your intervertebral foramen and removes the blockages present. You can have foraminotomy at any level of your spine. Doctors can recommend foraminotomy to treat spinal stenosis causing neck or back pain or tingling and weakness in your hands or arms.

Microdiscectomy

Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive process that benefits patients with herniated discs. The procedure involves your surgeon removing portions of the herniated disc to alleviate pressure on your spinal nerve column. Herniated discs can happen anywhere along your spine, but microdiscectomy is most common for the lumbar portion. Herniated discs often cause sciatica. Your doctor may recommend a microdiscectomy to relieve sciatica pain lasting over twelve weeks. 

Laminotomy

Laminotomy removes a small part of the lamina, the bony area of your spine. It is similar to laminectomy but eliminates most of the lamina. Your specialist can recommend laminotomy if you have spinal cord compression with myelopathy symptoms like severe stiffness or difficulty walking. It helps relieve spinal pressure, stopping myelopathy progression and allowing healing. Laminotomy can also benefit you if you have persistent spinal or leg pain from bone spurs, sciatica, herniated disc, or spinal stenosis.

Spinal surgeries help treat spine issues that do not improve with other treatments. They help relieve pain, treat spine issues, and promote spinal stability. Common spinal surgeries include spinal fusion, laminectomy, foraminotomy, laminotomy, and microdiscectomy. Schedule an appointment at Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center for spinal surgeries to improve your spine stability.