The L4 and L5 vertebrae may be fused together or disc replacement can be considered to preserve motion of the lumbar spine.
Surgery may be considered when the neurological deficits, such as numbness and/or weakness continue to worsen despite several weeks of nonsurgical treatments. For a successful surgical outcome, a structural condition that is known to be responsive to surgical treatment must be present. Surgery may also be advised in cases of tumors or infections.
Lumbar spine surgeries to relieve compression of a nerve root and/or the cauda equina are usually performed using minimally invasive techniques and include:
• Microdiscectomy: In this surgery, a small part of the disc material near the nerve root is taken out. A portion of the bone adjacent to the nerve root may also be trimmed to relieve compression.
• Laminectomy: A part or all of the lamina (area of bone at the back of the vertebra) is removed in order to provide more room for the cauda equina.
• Foraminotomy. The opening for the spinal nerve root (intervertebral foramen) is enlarged by trimming bony overgrowth, relieving compression.
• Facetectomy. Nerve root compression is relieved by trimming and/or removing a part of the facet joints.
• Advanced Disc Replacement: This surgery is not very common and includes a complete replacement of the intervertebral disc to relieve nerve root compression and replace it with an artificial implant.
• Spinal Fusion: Depending on the extensiveness of the surgery and the amount of bone removed, the surgical segment may be fused with the adjacent motion segment to provide stability.
Surgeons may perform more than one procedure at a time. For example, a laminectomy procedure may be done along with a foraminotomy, and the surgery is called a laminoforaminotomy.
As with any surgery, there is always a small risk of serious complications, such as infection, nerve injury, excessive bleeding, or severe allergic reaction. Before deciding to have a surgery, it is important to discuss the risks, alternatives to surgery, as well as possible complications if surgery is not performed.
Our advanced Disc Replacement Solutions now offer motion preservation and a “Quality of Motion” that is not present in other solutions.
Unlike early Disc Replacement designs advanced artificial disc replacements are designed to replicate the structure and performance of a natural disc.
Our complex solutions can provide stability when needed, and motion preservation whenever possible.
These advanced technologies include:
The BAGUERA® DISC REPLACEMENT
The BAGUERA® disc replacements
innovative design incorporates a disc nucleus designed to enable absorption of shocks and vibrations.
The prodisc Total Disc Replacement
The prodisc Total Disc Replacement (TDR) technology is proven to maintain spinal balance and motion, reduce adjacent level degeneration, and allow for a return to normal activities.
The fixed center of rotation allows physiological range of motion while providing stability to the spine and significantly reducing reoperations at the adjacent levels.
When additional stability is needed Disc Replacement can be combined with Spinal Fusion using a less invasive front approach.
An ALIF TAS-Cage is a specific type of interbody fusion cage used in Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
These ADR plus Spinal Fusion solutions are called Hybrid Surgery and should only be done by the most experienced surgeons who have significant experience with complex multi-level Disc Replacement Surgery and Spinal Fusion Surgery.
Quite often, inexperienced surgeons recommend solutions based on limited options.
You deserve better!
Our surgeons have the experience and the skills required for complex multi-level lumbar and cervical disc replacement surgeries and other advanced spine solutions.
“Advanced disc replacement implants have allowed us to achieve a success rate of 99%”
Known for his work with intervertebral disc prosthetics and a dedicated focus on disc replacement. betterdiscreplacement.com