When it comes to spinal fusion surgery, most people are familiar with why the surgery is performed – to provide greater stability to an area of the spine that’s become damaged or unstable from disease or injury; but most men and women are unaware of the wide variety of fusion procedures that are available today to provide a more customized approach based on each patient’s unique needs.
Not too long ago, spinal fusion was divided into two primary uses – cervical procedures for the neck area of the spine and lumbar surgeries for the low back. But today, there are different procedures not just for different areas of the spine, but also for different underlying causes. Plus, today’s procedures use minimally invasive approaches with smaller incisions for quicker recovery and fewer risks than traditional techniques that required significantly larger incisions.
Age-related spinal degeneration is one of the most common causes for spinal fusion surgery. It’s no big surprise, then, that as baby boomers have begun entering their senior years, the demand for new, less invasive, more effective techniques has risen. The surgeons at the Microsurgical Spine Center have kept pace with continuing education and intensive training in many novel techniques aimed at correcting problems caused by nerve impingement, disc degeneration, bone spurs and many other issues.
Of course, not every back problem requires surgery to correct, but it’s nice to know that when you do have a problem that needs surgery, you have access to the most advanced techniques for better results and faster recovery. At the Microsurgical Spine Center, our highly-skilled surgeons perform an array of special fusion techniques, including techniques that use rods, plates and cages, either alone or together, to promote bone growth for greater long-term stability. Plus, state-of-the-art grafting techniques minimize discomfort in the donor areas as well. If you’re having chronic low-back pain, the first step toward relief is having an evaluation. Call us at 253-841-8939 and schedule an appointment so you can learn about the options that can help you start feeling better as soon as possible.
