While most cases of back pain can be successfully treated with non-surgical options, some conditions may require surgery. Some of the diagnoses that may need surgery to resolve include:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Vertebral fractures
- Degenerative disc disease
With board certified neurosurgeons, interventional radiologists, and pain management specialists, the Spine Specialists of Atlanta Medical Center provide a complete range of surgical treatment options that include:
- Hardware Revision
- Kyphoplasty—a two-step procedure in which a balloon is first inserted to restore the shape of the spine, and then a cement-like mixture is inserted into the fractured vertebra.
- Lysis of epidural adhesions—a procedure in which medication is injected into the epidural space to relieve pain and dissipate scar tissue.
- Laminectomy/discectomy - a procedure in which part of the lamina (portion of the bone on the back of the vertebrae) is removed as well as a portion of a ligament. The herniated disc is then removed.
- Microdiscectomy – similar to a discectomy (above), but using a smaller incision.
- Spinal fusion – when two or more vertebrae are joined together using bone grafts, screws and rods.
- Percutaneous surgical techniques—using minimally invasive procedures.
- Scoliosis deformity correction
- Spinal cord stimulator—an implantable medical device that generates an electric impulse near the surface of the spinal cord and provides a tingling sensation that alters the perception of pain.
- Treatment of spine trauma, spinal cord injury
- Radiofrequency lesioning—a procedure using a specialized machine to interrupt nerve conduction on a semi-permanent basis. The nerves are usually blocked for six to nine months (can be as short as three months or as long as 18 months).
- Vertebroplasty—a procedure in which a cement-like mixture is inserted into the fractured vertebra.
For more information on the spine and treatment options, please refer to the “Health Resources” section of this Web site.