Spine Surgery
Treatment for Conditions of the Back, Spine and Neck
In many cases, back and neck pains go away without treatment, but if you have been suffering sharp, severe pains, or aches that have lasted longer than two weeks, surgery may be necessary to help you recover.
RWJBarnabas Health operates spine surgery centers that are nationally certified by the Joint Commission. We provide comprehensive treatments for conditions of the spine, back and neck performed by surgeons who have completed advanced orthopedic surgery training.
Your physician should not recommend spinal surgery unless you have a serious injury or other treatments have proven ineffective. Spine surgery can be very effective, but only when used properly. Your orthopedic team should have a firm idea of what is causing your back pain before building a surgical treatment plan.
Spine Surgery Is Safe and Often Minimally Invasive
Advancements in technology have made many spinal procedures simpler and less invasive.
With minimally invasive spine surgery, many procedures can be done with only a few small incisions in the back, making the post-surgical recovery period easier.
Spinal Procedures We Perform
The following are some common spinal procedures:
- Disc removal and disc replacement. Each of your vertebrae is cushioned by rubbery pieces of cartilage called discs. Discs absorb shock and keep vertebrae in place. When a disc gets damaged or slips out of place, pressure is exerted on the spinal nerves. When this is the cause of your back pain, an orthopedist can perform surgery to remove or replace the defective disc.
- Spinal fusion. Many forms of back pain can be treated with spinal fusion. In this procedure, two vertebrae are fused together, limiting their movement and protecting your spinal nerves from damage. Spinal fusion is very safe and, in most cases, the fusion does not limit the patient’s range-of-motion.
- Foraminotomy. In this procedure, bone is removed along the side of the vertebrae in order to relieve pressure on the nerves. A spinal fusion may also be required to strengthen the spine.
- Laminectomy. The lamina is a piece of bone that covers the spinal canal. During a laminectomy, the lamia is removed to widen the spinal canal and relieve pressure on spinal nerves. This is a common treatment for spinal arthritis, which can cause the lamia to develop painful growths.
Complications from back surgery are rare, but you should speak with your doctor about the pros and cons of any procedure, including the likelihood that it will help with your pain, before committing to surgery.