Spine

Diagnosis

The most common diagnosis are herniated disc, foraminal stenosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, synovial cyst and fractures.

Initial treatment for abnormal conditions of the spine include rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, traction, bracing, epidural blocks and chiropractic treatment. When non-operative treatment fails surgical intervention is often necessary.

Symptoms

Cervical Spine
The most common symptoms associated with abnormal conditions in the cervical spine are neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, numbness and or weakness in the arm or hand.

Lumbar spine
The most common symptoms associated with the lumbar spine are back pain, leg pain, hip pain, numbness and or weakness in the leg or foot.

Treatments

Initial treatment for abnormal conditions of the spine include rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, traction, bracing, epidural blocks and chiropractic treatment. When non-operative treatment fails surgical intervention is often necessary.

Microscopic anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
A surgical procedure to correct nerve root or spinal cord compression in the cervical spine. It is often performed as an outpatient procedure.

Laminoplasty
A surgical procedure used for treating multiple levels of spinal stenosis by relieving the pressure on the spinal cord in the neck. It is not a fusion and therefore preserves motion and provides stability.

Laminectomy
A surgical procedure which removes the lamina (arch of bone covering the spinal cord) to decompress or alleviate pressure from the neural elements (nerves or spinal cord).

Microscopic lumbar laminectomy discectomy (MLD)
A minimally invasive surgical procedure to correct nerve root compression caused by a herniated disc. It is often performed as an outpatient procedure.

Microscopic lumbar laminectomy foraminotomy (MLF)
A minimally invasive surgical procedure to correct nerve root compression in the back. It is often performed as an outpatient procedure.

Spinal Fusion
A surgical procedure to stabilize the vertebrae often using titanium instrumentation. This is usually accompanied by a laminectomy with is referred to as a posterior decompression fusion (PDF). This is an inpatient procedure.