There are numerous types of spinal surgeries that can be used to treat a variety of conditions. Here, our orthopedic surgery experts will discuss some of the most common conditions requiring spinal surgery and briefly explain how these disorders can be corrected by surgery.
There are numerous types of spinal surgeries that can be used to treat a variety of conditions. Here, our orthopedic surgery experts will discuss some of the most common conditions requiring spinal surgery and briefly explain how these disorders can be corrected by surgery.
Bulging and Herniated Discs
Bulging discs are discs bulging outside of the space they normally occupy in the vertebrae, whereas a herniated or ruptured disc refers to a condition in which a small crack occurs in the disc, causing the inner materials to rupture out of the disc. Both bulging and herniated discs generally occur as a result of the wear and tear that comes with aging or repetitive activities, such as heavy lifting, and both may be asymptomatic in early or mild cases.
In cases where non-surgical treatments such as physiotherapy and pain medications are not sufficient, the symptoms are affecting areas other than your back and your symptoms interfere with your everyday activities, surgery may be necessary.
Surgery for bulging or herniated discs is aimed at stabilizing or removing the affected disc to relieve the resulting narrowing of the spinal cord. Some common surgical options include discectomy or microdiscectomy, laminotomy, laminectomy and spinal fusion. The decision regarding which of these techniques is right for you will be made by your orthopedic surgeon based on the preoperative imaging and physical examination findings.
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures can develop over time as a result of repetitive motions or acute trauma, such as a car accident or sports injury. In most cases, conservative treatments, including discontinuing any activities that may have caused the stress fracture, using a back brace, pain medications and physiotherapy, are enough to allow the spondylosis to heal. However, if the symptoms do not go away or worsen with time, orthopedic surgery may be needed.
Spondylolysis can lead to spondylolisthesis in which the vertebrae is displaced. In these serious cases, spinal fusion is generally performed to connect two or more vertebrae using a bone graft or screws, fixing the vertebrae and providing pain relief.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis refers to narrowing of the spinal cord. This condition can affect either the lumbar or the cervical spine. In general, spinal stenosis affects individuals in their 50s or older and develops over time as a result of the natural aging process or due to genetic factors.
The most common surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis is lumbar laminectomy, which may be performed with or without spinal fusion. This surgery aims to relieve the pressure on the spinal nerve roots by removing part of the bone or the thickened tissue responsible for causing the narrowing.
It is important to note that surgery is not a “quick fix”, and even after the surgery, the road to recovery is often long and demanding. The return to sports, physical work or other activities should be gradual, and physiotherapy is often required.
Common Gymnastics Injuries
Gymnastics is a highly technical and demanding sport, which is associated with a high rate of injury. In fact, more than 80,000 gymnastics-related sports injuries are treated each year in the U.S. alone. While the majority of these injuries are overuse injuries resulting from hours and hours of repetitive motions, acute injuries due to falls or other accidents are also relatively common. Here, we will discuss some of the most common gymnastics-related injuries as well as how to avoid them.
Should You Consider Knee Replacements?
Total knee replacement is a relatively common type of orthopedic surgery with approximately 600,000 patients undergoing the procedure every year in the United States. The most common reason for needing a knee replacement is osteoarthritis in which the cartilage between the joint and bone is gradually worn away. This damage to the cartilage consequently results in swelling, stiffness and pain, and since the cartilage cannot be renewed, surgery may eventually be needed. Other relatively common reasons for needing a knee replacement include rheumatoid arthritis and direct knee trauma.
While the success rate of knee replacements is very high, this surgery is not right for everyone. However, if the answer to the following questions is yes for you, knee replacement may be the right decision.
Prevent Ulnar Wrist Pain from Tennis
Wrist pain is highly common in tennis players, including both amateurs and pros. In most cases, wrist injuries are the result of chronic overuse of the wrist, improper technique or inappropriate equipment, such as the wrong size grip or improper string tension. However, acute injuries from falling or not hitting the ball correctly are also common.
Wrist pain can be divided into two main types: radial (thumb-side) and ulnar (pinkie-side) injuries. Many players experience ulnar pain in their non-dominant hand during two-handed backhand strokes. During these strokes,the upper hand is placed in extreme ulnar deviation and extension while moving from supination to pronation.
Who Should Have a Hip Replacement?
Each year, approximately 290,000 hip replacement surgeries are conducted in the United States alone. Since the procedure was first performed in 1960, advances in the surgical techniques and materials used have made it one of the most successful and effective orthopedic surgeries. The goal of the procedure is to greatly decrease hip pain and to allow an increased range of motion at the hip, allowing patients to get back to most of their daily activities.
Common Shoulder Injuries for Athletes
Shoulder injuries and shoulder pain are relatively common among athletes and can range widely in their severity and symptoms. In many cases, it can be difficult to diagnose the specific type of shoulder injury when it first occurs, so early evaluation and intervention by an orthopedic sports medicine specialist is essential.
Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain in athletes are shoulder dislocations, acromioclavicular joint injuries, rotator cuff tendonitis and tears, labral and superior labral anteroposterior tears, fractures and arthritis as well as activity-specific injuries such as “thrower’s shoulder,” “swimmer’s shoulder” and “rugby shoulder,” among others. (more…)
Don’t Wait Too Long for Joint Replacement
Joint replacement surgery, particularly of the knee and hip, is becoming increasingly common in the United States. Almost 5 percent of all Americans over the age of 50 have reportedly undergone total knee replacement with more than 600,000 Americans undergoing knee replacement each year. Hip replacement surgery, which is the second most common joint replacement surgery, is performed on approximately 120,000 people every year in the U.S.
The leading cause of joint replacement is osteoarthritis, which is characterized by the inflammation of certain joints. Osteoarthritis is generally caused by wear and tear or by previous trauma to the affected body part. (more…)
Symptoms of Arthritis in the Hand
Arthritis is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of one or more joints in the body. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the hand is one of the most commonly affected body parts. (more…)
About Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Minimally invasive spinal surgery, or MISS for short, is a surgical method used to treat a variety of spinal disorders. It is characterized not only by the use of a smaller incision than in conventional open spinal surgery, but also by the use of advanced technology and innovative techniques. According to our Florida orthopedic specialists, the main goal of MISS is to minimize muscle and soft tissue damage caused by the surgery while accomplishing results equivalent to those of conventional open spinal surgery.
During MISS, a number of different techniques can be used depending on the condition being treated. In general, a tubular access approach is utilized. By using a tubular retractor, the force on the muscles around the incision is divided more equally than during open surgery, thus creating less localized pressure and reducing the risk of muscle and soft tissue damage. In some cases, MISS may be performed using endoscopy, which involves a tiny video camera guiding the orthopedic surgeon by displaying the internal view on several monitors in real-time, or by fluoroscopy, which is a type of intraoperative real-time X-ray.
MISS can be used to treat a number of different disorders, including degenerative discs, herniated discs, spinal tumors and compression fractures. It commonly involves either decompression, which is used to alleviate the pressure of the spinal cord or nerve roots, or fusion, which is used to stabilize and/or fixate the spine.
Advice for Parents of Fall Sport Athletes
With fall quickly approaching, this is the perfect time to get your child or teenager ready for their fall activities. Particularly for older children who may have tryouts coming up soon, it is important to start preparing in order for them to be ready and to reduce the risk of them sustaining various types of sports injuries. In order to help your child get the most of their sports experience, our Florida orthopedic specialists recommend you keep these six things in mind. (more…)
