Top 5 Spinal Injury Surgeries : WHO Global Research 2015

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Spinal Injury refers to damage to spinal cord due from disease, trauma or degeneration. As per the WHO World Health Organization), it is estimated that the annual global incidence of spinal injury is about 40 to 80 case per million population.

These days, spinal injury surgeries account for more than 50% of the neurosurgical practice and most neurosurgeons are specialized in this field. If you are suffering from spinal cord injury that needs surgery, you can check out the top 5 spinal injury surgeries.

Cervical laminoplasty surgery: It is a surgical technique which opens the lamina by releasing the pressure on the spinal cord. This provides relief from the symptoms of the spinal cord injury. Various factors that cause pressure on spinal cord include bone spurs, tumors, degenerative changes, arthritis or fractures. Often this spinal cord pressure known as spinal stenosis can arise at multiple levels of the cervical spine at same time. The more severe this pressure, you are expected to develop symptoms called myelopathy. Cervical laminoplasty is an excellent option to remove this pressure thereby reversing the symptoms and allows your spinal cord to heal.

In first method of laminoplasty, an incision called posterior approach is performed in the back of the neck. During the surgery the patient lies face down on the operation table. Specialized monitoring devices are used during surgery to ensure that no damage is caused to spinal cord during the surgery. Another type of laminoplasty called as “French-door” method is performed by creating complete hinges through middle of lamina and partial incisions are created on each side to create two doors that open in the middle.

As there is more than one method to perform laminoplasty, your doctor will suggest the most appropriate laminoplasty method for you.

After undergoing this surgery, you may require to stay in hospital for 24 hours. You do not need use the neck collar after surgery. Your doctor will prescribe physical therapy to strengthen your neck muscles after surgery. Most of you need not require continuing the pain medication and can resume your regular activities within few weeks. All in all the results for a laminoplasty are good and serious complications are seldom reported by patients.

Minimally Lumbar Discectomy Invasive Spine Surgery: It is surgical procedure in which the part of damaged disc in the lower portion of the spine is removed. Usually the discs serve as cushions between vertebrae and considering the situations, the surgeons perform this surgery by using minimally invasive technique.

Unlike the open surgery that requires larger cuts, this type of surgery requires small incision. In this procedure, the patient lies face down. Then the doctor creates small incision in the back. The x-ray visuals are provided by the fluoroscope and dilators are gently inserted in order to spread the muscles. Then a portion of the bone is removed. Further the nerves are gently moved aside to expose the disc using a retractor. Then the problematic portions of the discs are removed and tissue is placed back to the original position. This is followed by closing of the incision.

Though recovery time may vary for patient, many patients are able to leave the hospital the day of surgery. You may experience complete relief from the pre-surgery symptoms immediately after undergoing this surgery. Overall, this procedure carries smaller risk of complication and allows you to return to your daily activities within few weeks. You should discuss your recovery plan with your doctor.

Spinal fusion surgery: In this technique, two or more vertebrae are combined in the lower back so that it eliminates unwanted pain. There are different methods of performing fusion surgery. In the first method, the metal implants are used to hold the vertebrae together until the new bone starts growing between them. In another method, bone is taken from the bone bank or pelvic bank and then it is used to create bridge between vertebrae which is next to each other. This bone grafting helps growing new bone.

You will require to be watched in the hospital for few days after undergoing this surgery. Usually, you do not need bed rest while recovering at home.

Read More: Spinal Fusion - Science - Natural News

Total Disc Replacement: In this surgery, all or most of the disc is removed and replaced with device implanted into the space between the vertebrae. The most commonly used total disc replacement designs have two plates where one attached to vertebrae above the disc and another to vertebrae below. Some devices have compressible plastic-like pieces between these plates that allow smooth motion between surfaces sliding across each other.

You can return to the daily function soon after undergoing this surgery. You may not need extended post-operative bracing. You need to stay in hospital for 1-4 days.

Lumbar Disc Microsurgery: It is a minimally invasive surgical technique that is used to remove the herniated portion of a vertebral disc. This procedure is performed through a small incision on the back. The surgeon uses microscope to see the herniated disc through the opening. Then your spinal nerve is gently moved away from the herniated disc. Now the surgeon removes the herniated section of the disc which immediately stops pressure exerted by disc on nerve root. The doctor removes his tools and moves back your spinal nerve to original position. Then he closes the bandage and incision.

After undergoing this surgery, you may experience decreased post-operative pain. As this procedure involves fewer tissues you’ll require less recovery time. You can do deskwork within one to two weeks. Physically demanding jobs may require four to eight weeks for full recovery.

Resources:

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• Spinal Cord Compression; Surgical Tutor
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