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Lumbar Spine Surgery as an Option

Lumbar spine surgery for back pain is only indicated when conservative treatments did not prove helpful in relieving pain, if there is severe traumatic injury, and if the patient shows signs of progressive neurological deficits (loss of bladder and/or bowel control and increasing leg weakness). Abnormal spine curvatures such as scoliosis would also require surgery if the marked lateral deviation of the spine causes severe pain and other symptoms.

The surgical approach to spine surgery would be dependent upon the location of the affected area to allow for greater visualization and operative reach. For example, in many cases of spinal stenosis, anterior lumber spine surgery is performed together with anterior fusion as this is the best approach to the lamina and foramen.

The surgical approach is even more important in minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery wherein only a small incision is made. As an example, the anterior endoscopic approach to the cervical spine allows for effective anatomical decompression of the spinal canal and/or the nerve roots. Some of these procedures are aided by video for better visualization.

For those who are going to go under the knife or laser, there are many health websites that offer lumbar spine surgery video clips demonstrating these surgical approaches.

Two questions that are on the minds of most patients when it comes to lumbar spine surgery are…

1. What are the possible complications of the surgery?
2. How soon is the recovery?

Both major and minimally invasive lumbar spine surgeries carry the same risks of bleeding, infection, dural tears and nerve root damage, although arguably these conditions occur less with endoscopic surgeries.

Great Advantage of Minimally Invasive Lumbar Spine Surgery

The main advantage of minimally invasive lumbar spine surgery is the quick recovery time. Most patients leave the Recovery Room one hour after surgery. It also doesn’t require prolonged bed rest. A patient could return to work within two weeks and then go on with their daily routines without any restrictions in less than six weeks. Lumbar spine surgery recovery definitely takes much longer with major operations.

In the end, however, the decision of the type of lumbar spine surgery to be performed would be dependent upon the area affected and the doctor’s choice of surgical approach.

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