Discectomy

is the surgical removal of part or all of a vertebral disc that has herniated. The disc is removed by first cutting the outer annulus fibrosis and removing the nucleus pulposus to relieve pressure on the nerve root. A dissection is then performed to remove a ligament that runs from front to back in order to access the spinal canal and remove any bone spurs or disc material protruding through the ligament.

Conditions to Treat with Discectomy 

1. Herniated Disc
2. Bulging Disc
3. Pinched Nerve
4. Sciatica

Common Symptoms

1. Arm or leg pain — In addition to the localized pain that     you may feel at the site of the compressed nerve in your back, you may     also experience radiating or shooting pain in your extremities. If your     spine condition is in your cervical spine (neck), you may experience pain     in your arm and shoulder. If the compressed nerve is in your lower back,     you might experience radiating pain down your buttock and leg. The pain     may worsen with sudden movements, such as sneezing or coughing.
2. Numbness     or tingling — Often accompanied by the pain in your arm or leg,     you may experience a tingling or numbness that extends to your farthest     extremities, such as your hand or foot. Some people may only experience     numbness or tingling without the radiating pain.
3. Weakness — If the compressed nerve is     unable to send strong signals to your surrounding muscles, you may     experience weakness in the arm and hand or leg and foot.

is a surgical procedure performed to relieve spinal cord and/or nerve root compression. The purpose of it is to decompress—take pressure off the spinal cord and nerve roots.  During a laminotomy, part of the lamina is removed to open the spinal canal and access the spinal cord and nerve roots.  A laminotomy allows your neurosurgeon to access your spine from behind; your posterior side.

Conditions to Treat with Laminotomy

1. Pinched     Nerve
2. Spinal     Stenosis
3. Bulging     Disc
4. Arthritis     of the Spine
5. Herniated     Disc

Common Symptoms

1. Weakness     in extremities —When a nerve is compressed in the back of the spine, it might not be able     to send strong signals to the correlating extremity. For this reason, you     may experience weakness in your arm or leg, depending on the location of     the compressed nerve.
2. Pain     and discomfort —      If the nerve is in your lower back, you may experience pain or stiffness     in your lower back when standing or walking for too long.
3. Balance     problems —      If you are experiencing pain and weakness in your leg, you might also     experience balance problems due to the compressed nerve in your back.

is a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed to expand the opening in the spinal column where the nerve roots exit the spinal canal. Its purpose is to relieve the pressure resulting from foraminal stenosis. This is a painful condition caused by a narrowing of the foramen, the opening within each of the spinal bones that allows nerve roots to pass through. 

Conditions to Treat with Foraminotomy

1. Herniated     Disc
2. Foraminal Stenosis
3. Bulging     Disc
4. Arthritis     of the Spine
5. Herniated     Disc
6. Bone     Spurs
7. Sciatica
8. Pinched     Nerve

Common Symptoms

1. Shooting      pain —      Since the passageway (foramina) that carries the nerve roots from the      spine to other parts of the body is compressed, many patients experience      shooting pain either in the shoulder and arm or in the buttock and leg. In      very severe cases, the pain may reach the hand or the foot.
2. Numbness      and stiffness — If the foraminal stenosis is found in the lower      back, you may experience numbness and stiffness in your back and legs.      This can increase when standing or sitting in the same position for too      long.
3. Loss of      bladder and/or bowel control — This symptom only occurs in      very severe cases. If you are experiencing this symptom, seek medical help      immediately.

is a procedure that uses a laser to remove unwanted tissue from the facet joint and deadens the nerve in the joint that relays pain symptoms. The facet joints are located between the vertebrae, bony segments that compose the spinal column. Each vertebra has two facet joints, one on each side of the spinal column. Thermal ablation is the use of heat in the form of a laser to destroy the nerve that is sensing pain in the joint.

Conditions to Treat with Facet Thermal Ablation

• Arthritis of the Spine

Common Symptoms

1. Acute      pain — Facet arthritis may cause localized pain in the neck or lower back      where the joints are affected. The pain can be random and intermittent,      ranging from almost constant to just a few times a month.
2. Persistent      tenderness or pain — One of the most common symptoms of facet      arthritis is a continual tenderness at the site of the arthritis.
3. Limited      movement and flexibility — Often arthritis in the facet joints will      cause limited movement and stiffness in the spine. You might experience      more pain bending backward than forward.

is a new surgery technique performed to replace a damaged, herniated, or painful disc while maintaining motion in the spine. Instead of performing a traditional spinal fusion, an artificial disc is inserted to replace the old damaged disc. The new disc actually moves and is designed to not reduce any motion, a problem common in spinal fusion procedures.

Conditions to Treat with Cervical Disc Replacement

1. Herniated Disc
2. Degenerated Disc
3. Spinal Stenosis
4. Pinched Nerve

Common Symptoms

1. Neck pain and/or stiffness
2. Headaches
3. Radiating pain in shoulder and arm
4. Muscle weakness in shoulder, arm and/or hand
5. Tingling or numbness in your arm or fingers

uses advanced technology and innovative techniques to treat back pain and neck pain caused by a variety of spinal disorders. Minimally invasive stabilization minimizes soft tissue damage. Minimally invasive stabilization may be a less risky, less invasive option compared to traditional open spine surgery.

Conditions to Treat with M.I.S.S

• Spinal     Stenosis

Common Symptoms

1. Numbness     and tingling —      If a nerve is compressed in the upper part of your spine, you may     experience numbness or tingling in your arm or hand. In very severe cases,     you might lose control of your bladder and/or bowel movements. See your     doctor immediately if you experience any bladder or bowel complications.
2. Muscle     weakness —      You may experience muscle weakness in your arm or hand as a result of your     nerve being severely compressed.
3. Numbness     and tingling —      Having a compressed nerve in your lower back can result in numbness and     tingling in your buttock and down your leg. Severe cases can cause     numbness and tingling to occur in the foot, as well.
4. Pain     and cramping —      Standing for long period of time may cause pain and cramping in the lower     back and legs.