A damaged disc can cause significant pain in the neck and back and could require surgery to resolve. Disc surgery is often necessary when you experience a torn disc or deteriorated disc condition that causes the disc to fail and stop supporting the spine. Neurosurgeon specialists assess surgical options and outcomes by examining your overall health condition. Here are two types of disc surgery that a specialist may recommend:
Disc Replacement
An injured disc can increasingly deteriorate the facet joints, which may lead to arthritis. An unhealthy disc minimizes the size of natural spine openings and causes spinal nerves and nerve roots to shrink. In this case, a neurosurgeon may recommend artificial disc replacement (ARD) surgery. ADR, also called total disc arthroplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure that mitigates pain and restores balance.
Using an anterior technique, the surgeon removes the injured spinal disc and implants a synthetic one that crosses between the vertebrae. An anterior approach involves making a cut in the front of the neck for a cervical disc or the abdomen for a pelvic disc. This helps the specialist guide tiny tools through the muscle roughage without cutting veins or injuring the spinal intersection.
Benefits of Disc Replacement Surgery
Disc replacement helps you maintain normal spine mobility and reduces blood loss. ARD patients often recover quickly and experience only slight scarring. Your doctor does not need to seek bone grafting or hard collars. Since it has less post-operation pain, you can return to your activities faster. Disc surgery also inhibits increased wear and tear in the spinal section above and under the disc, reducing additional surgery risks. The procedure also does not require bracing for the pelvic spine and has minimal tissue malfunction.
Spinal Fusion
Fusion surgery is common for patients with chronic back pain that results in deterioration. Patients who smoke may have limited motion between the bones, inhibiting nerve stretch. Though motion is limited, everyday activities are usually not affected. If the bones do not join completely, additional surgery could be recommended to correct the condition.
Spinal fusion involves joining two or more vertebrae together and requires a bone graft from the patient or a tissue bank. Some specialists may obtain artificial materials for bone grafting. The procedure is usually done to correct the spine formation, especially when curved. A weak spine that causes arthritis can be operated on to make it more stable. Spinal fusion is also performed to balance the spine after the removal of an injured disc.
Recovering From Spinal Fusion
After surgery, most patients remain in the hospital for a few days for monitoring and initial healing. For some, it takes several months for the spinal bones to heal and fuse. During this time, a doctor could recommend wearing a brace to support spine alignment. Physical therapy is a common step to recovery.
Consult a Disc Surgery Specialist
Disc replacement procedures can heal within two to four weeks and don’t require patients to wear abdominal binders for pelvic replacement. During healing, doctors often allow you to perform general activities that do not cause a strain on the abdomen. If you have back or neck damage, consult a disc surgery professional today for a recommendation on the appropriate procedure.
