Spine Care

RWJ Rahway provides procedures to help with spinal problems. These include:

Laminectomy, a surgery that creates space by removing the back part of the vertebra that covers the spinal canal.
This procedure is also called decompression surgery because it enlarges the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. This procedure is generally used when more conservative treatments, such as medication, physical therapy or injections have failed to relieve symptoms.

Spinal Fusion, a surgery to connect two or more vertebrae in the spin, eliminating motion between them. During a fusion, the surgeon places bone or a bone-like material within the space between two spinal vertebrae. Metal plates, screws and rods may be used to hold the vertebrae together.

Kyphoplasty, a surgical procedure that expands and stabilizes compression fractures of the spine. During kyphoplasty, a balloon device is introduced into the spine and inflated to expand the bone. The cavity created by the balloon is then filled with a bone cement mixture. With this process completed, an internal cast is formed inside the vertebral body with the goals of reducing pain, stabilizing the damaged area and restoring lost height in the vertebral body.