Spine surgery is the surgical, or decompressive, process that restores movement or removes pressure on the spine. It may be used to correct the conditions of a spinal disorder in children and adults. The spine is made up of several bones called vertebrae stacked one on top of each other.
They have gaps between them called intervertebral spaces that allow nerves to pass through. Below these are discs which are cushions of thick jelly-like material that act as shock absorbers between the joints at each vertebral level (joints connect bone with ligament).
In India, Spine surgery is performed on large numbers of people (more than 3.5 lakh per year) and many more thousands are treated by doctors with spinal training alone.
Spine Surgeon
“A spinal surgeon is a medical specialist who performs operations on the spine.”
Dr Rao’s Hospital has the best spine surgeon in Andhra Pradesh. With the best training and experience. The hospital has the most experienced and well-qualified spine surgeon in Andhra Pradesh. Our hospital has a team of the best spine doctor in Guntur who has trained and worked for several years.
The spine surgeon has to diagnose the underlying causes of back, neck and other types of pain. The surgeons also work to restore functionality and intensity, including mobility, stability and strength. The treatment plan will involve many specialists in back care such as the physiotherapist, occupational therapists and others.
The spine surgeon will also decide whether any type of surgery is required or not.
What Spinal Conditions Require Surgery?
Spine surgery may be required for several spine conditions. The need for spine surgery is dependent on several factors, including age, previous injuries and quality of life issues. The more degenerative the condition, the more likely that it will be treated with surgery. Back pain (which is often caused by bad posture), neck pain (caused by muscle spasm) or bulging spinal discs can be treated using spinal fusion (an operation to fuse a segment of vertebrae).
Spinal surgery is performed to treat spinal disorders. It may also be used to treat complications from spinal disorders, such as stenosis or bone fractures. The primary goal of any spinal surgery is to relieve pain. And restore muscle strength in a shorter amount of time than conservative treatments, improve mobility and restore normal spinal function.
Most Common Spinal Surgeries
Many different types of implants are used in spine surgery.
• Spinal fusion surgery: In this procedure, the surgeon places a bone graft and a metal implant to strengthen the vertebrae. The fusion procedure is usually short and can be done through a small incision in the back rather than an incision across it. It can be performed on the lumbar (lower back), cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) or lumbar-thoracic (lumbar and thoracic) spine.
• Spinal decompression surgery: In this procedure, the surgeon takes out part of the spine (vertebrae) which is pressing on a nerve root. This relieves pain and restores movement. The back muscles help hold the spinal joints together safely after surgery.
• Laminectomy/Discectomy: In this method, the surgeon removes herniated or bulging disc tissue to decompress or relieve pressure on sensitive nerves. The surgeon may need to use a combination of these devices.
• Plates and Screws: A plate and screws help stabilize a ruptured vertebral disc or broken vertebrae. When used with a cage, plate and cage surgeries offer an additional level of stability for complex spinal conditions.
• Vertebroplasty: This minimally invasive procedure strengthens vertebrae weakened by compression fractures
• Kyphoplasty: This is similar to vertebroplasty, but can be used in the thoracic or lumbar spine in addition to the cervical spine. It uses a balloon to inflate weakened vertebrae.
The spinal surgery must be performed as early as possible after diagnosis, as successful healing and recovery are highly dependent on it. The recovery period is about two months for simple procedures like discectomy. And more than six months for complex operations like spinal fusion surgery.
About Hospital
The hospital has the best Spine surgeon in Guntur that are specialised in all kinds of spine surgeries. With well-trained and experienced staff who are specially trained in this field and provide the best care to the patients.
Dr Rao’s hospital is one of the best spine surgery hospitals in India with a team of top doctors that has specialization in different kinds of spine surgeries. With a well-equipped infrastructure and an expert team, we can offer a wide range of services.
Including minimally invasive procedures like implantation of rods, artificial caged and plates for fixation. As well as non-invasive procedures like injection treatments for pain management for our patients. The experience spanning more than three decades has helped us become one of the leading names offering state-of-the-art treatment options for spinal disorders.
Diagnosis Of Spinal Disease
Preliminary diagnosis This is usually done by a primary care doctor or general physician. He may refer the patient to an X-ray, MRI or CT scan to determine if there is any tissue damage.
Diagnosis of spinal disorders is done through several tests, including:
• X-ray: Used to check the shape and movement of the bones. A surgeon will order an X-ray to see if they can repair broken, badly damaged or displaced vertebrae. X-rays can show problems in the bones of the spine, but they are not as useful for diagnosing soft tissue problems like disc herniation or stenosis.
• MRI: Used to check the shape and movement of the bones. Also used to identify soft tissues, bone abnormalities, bony tumours, and blood vessel-related conditions.
• CT Scan: Used to look at abnormalities in the spine and brain. A surgeon will likely order a CT scan to check for spinal stenosis (narrowing) or herniated disc(s). The scan is usually performed with dye rather than radiation so it is less harmful.
Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to image the spine. These scans take high-resolution pictures of your spinal cord and vertebral column. So doctors can see any injuries, tumours or fractures in the vertebrae.
Treatment Of Spinal Disease
After diagnosis, treatment is based on the type of spinal disorder, with conservative and surgical treatments.
Conservative treatment is recommended before any surgery if possible because it may slow the progression of a spinal disorder. A Spine specialist in Guntur will suggest the best treatment for the patient depending on their condition and the type of surgery to be done.
Building on the success of conservative treatment and careful planning, spinal surgery can provide excellent results.
Medications
The medicines to reduce the pain of spine disorders are paracetamol (acetaminophen) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In addition, some special medications for nerve pain, back pain related to a pinched or inflamed nerve root, and back pain associated with spinal stenosis can also be prescribed.
Opioids are painkillers which are not recommended before surgery because they may slow down or stop the healing. Opioids can also cause problems called lung and breathing problems.
Physical Therapy
Activity programs and physical therapy can help reduce back pain related to spinal stenosis. Physical therapy can also correct muscle or joint problems caused by the injury.
For patients with severe spinal stenosis, certain back exercises are very helpful. These exercises are generally very helpful for patients whose pain usually gets better when they bend forward or move to the side.
Surgery
Depending on the type of procedure that is required and the severity of any condition affecting the spine. An orthopaedic spine surgeon in Guntur may perform one or more types of procedures. If a disc is herniated or the vertebrae are badly damaged or displaced, an orthopaedic surgeon will recommend fusion surgery.
Surgery may be need in more serious cases to remove a herniated disc or to remove bone spurs due to arthritis. Surgery for back pain generally involves removing bony pieces of the spine. That may be causing discomfort or narrowing the area where nerves and muscles are located (spinal stenosis).
Surgical Procedures for Spinal Disorders
The physiotherapist will plan out the treatments and determine the type of exercises that will be required to restore mobility, strength and posture. There are various ways to approach spine replacement surgery.
It may involve minimally invasive surgery using spinal implants like titanium rods, artificial discs or cages, which may be used to replace damaged cartilages or vertebrae. The use of plates and screws has also become common in spinal surgery procedures.
How Do You Know When It’s Time For Spine Surgery?
Neck pain is often the first symptom of spinal problems. But sometimes, it can also be noticed when a person experiences back or lower back pain or sudden discomfort. It’s vital to visit a doctor who will recommend an examination and let you know if you need to undergo surgery for spine disorders.
Spinal surgery is performed by a Neurosurgeon spine surgeon in Guntur. The surgeon will take a history of the patient’s health condition and symptoms before making a diagnosis and recommending treatment options. The procedure may either be done through open surgery or minimally invasive surgery with the help of a camera called an endoscope.