There are different approaches and surgical
techniques that can be performed for treating spinal conditions. Minimally
Invasive Surgery utilizes technological advanced techniques that offer
the patient more advantages than the Traditional Open Approach, which
involves making a large incision and more trauma to the muscles. The
type of surgery that is performed is based on the physical findings
at examination, the response to therapy, length of symptoms, results
of imaging studies, and response to diagnostic testing. The surgeon
will assess which option will be best suited for your particular circumstance
and discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure with you.
Minimally
Invasive Surgeries
……..revolutionizing surgery with innovative techniques
Southeastern Spine Center
is nationally recognized as a leader in the Minimally Invasive
Surgery Procedures. The surgeons at Souteastern Spine Center
serve as instructors for other surgeons across the United States
for different minimally invasive techniques and access devices.
These include the Pathfinder
from Abbott Spine and the X-lift
from Nuvasive.
The advantages of having minimally invasive access vs the traditional
open surgery technique are:
Reduction of time
spent in the hospital. (Average length is 24 hours)
Less pain so less
narcotics utilized.
Less scarring
Less blood loss
during surgery.
Overall a quicker
recovery period to get back to daily activities and work.
Reduction of health-care
costs
Dr. Sweeney
has performed more surgeries using theAtavi@
System than any other surgeon in the United States.
Both Dr Karp and Dr. Sweeney serve as instructors for surgeons across
the USA to learn these procedures using the Atavi@
System.
For more information about the Atavi@
System, please visit www.Endius.com.
This surgical technique involves two
very small incisions that allows a tubular introducer called a cannula,
to be inserted into the affected area of the spine and visualize
the space utilizing an endoscopic camera and monitor or a microscope.
This system allows the surgeon to complete
all the steps involved in the surgery thus eliminating the large
incisions that can be more traumatic to the body.
The surgeons at Southeastern Spine
have special training and clinical expertise to perform these surgeries.
If an individual is not a good candidate for Minimally Invasive
Access Surgery, a Traditional Open Approach can be utilized.
Microsurgical
Discectomy is a procedure performed by utilizing
a tubular device inserted through a very small incision.
Muscles are moved aside to see the vertebrae. The herniated
portion of the disc is removed to allow room for the nerve
to resume its normal position. There is less damage to nearby
parts of the spine. Patients tend to recover faster. This
is usually done using a microscope for visualizing.
Spinal
Stenosis - Spinal
Stenosis is minimally invasive procedure that relieves debilitating
pain in the back and legs. This new treatment option involves
implanting an X-Stop,
a titanium alloy implant. This is a low-risk alternative
to the current LSS treatment options and has been clinically
proven to relieve a patients symptoms.
Endoscopic
Discectomy - Many surgical procedures have been revolutionized
by the use of special TV cameras. The procedure is still the
same, but even smaller incisions (1/4 inch) are made to insert
a special magnified TV camera into the spinal canal so that
the surgeon can actually see the disc material. Through these
tiny incisions, the camera and several other surgical instruments
are inserted. Rather than looking through a microscope, the
doctor watches the TV screen while working with specially
designed instruments to remove the disc material.
Transforaminal
Lumbar Fusion (TLIF) is a surgical technique that
is performed from a posterior approach to stabilize the spinal
vertebrae and disc between. By going through the transforaminal
direction there is less bone removed so thus less disturbance
to the site. By fusing the vertebrae to eliminate any move-
ment between the bones, the spine is stabilized and a reduction
of pain and nerve irritation is accomplished. Surgical hardware
(screws and rods) can be applied to help enhance the fusion.
Bone graft, along with an interbody spacer will be inserted
into the disc space helping to restore normal height and opening
up the nerve foramina to take pressure off the nerve roots.
Posterior
Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) is a surgical technique
for placing bone graft between adjacent vertebrae (interbody).
Using various instruments, the disc is removed through the
right and left sides of the spinal canal and the intervertebral
space, which has been cleared, is then packed with bone graft
and a bone block or cage implant. Instrumentation, such as
pedicle screws, are used to provide support for the fused
vertebrae. Additional bone graft may be placed to ensure a
solid fusion.
Instrumented
Posterior Lumbar Fusion is a surgical procedure done
with a posterior approach to stabilize the Spinal vertebrae.
This is done utilizing special surgical instrumental hardware
such as metal screws and rods (hardware) that holds the vertebrae
in place. These devices are intended to stop movement from
occurring between the vertebrae. These metal devices give
more stability to the fusion site and allow the patient to
be out of bed much sooner.
Kyhoplasty
is a surgical procedure for compression fractures by percutaneously
inserting a flexible instrument that utilizes a balloon that
inflates and restores the correct anatomy of the vertebral body.
The inflated space is then filled with a cement that will maintain
the integrity of the vertebrae.
Nucleoplasty or Percutaneous
Discectomy is a procedure utilized for the treatment
of chronic back pain caused by a contained herniated disc.
This minimally invasive procedure uses a needle that is
placed into the center of the disc where a series of channels
are created to remove tissue from the nucleus. Tissue
removal from the nucleus acts to decompress the disc and
relieve the pressure exerted by the disc on the nearby
nerve root.
Traditional
Open Surgeries
Anterior
Lumbar Interbody Fusion is a surgical procedure in which
the incision is placed anterior through the abdomen. It involves
utilizing either bone graft or a cage-like device to restore
the disc height.
Anterior Cervical
Discectomy is a surgical procedure in which the incision
is made in the front of the neck beside the trachea. The term
discectomy means to "remove the disc." This procedure
is routinely used to relieve pressure on a spinal nerve or the
spinal cord cause by a herniated disc.
Cervical Discectomy
with Fusion is a surgical procedure that is done when
the surgeon intends to fuse two or more bones of the neck together.
This procedure of disc removal and fusion is often used to treat
degenerative problems (called spondylosis) in the neck
Posterior
Cervical Fusion is performed through an incision in
the back of the neck. A bone graft is placed on the back surface
of the vertebrae and with healing the vertebrae grow together,
creating a solid piece of bone. A posterior cervical fusion
is used
to stop the motion between
two or more vertebrae
to recreate the normal curve
of the cervical spine and keep a spinal deformity from getting
worse
to stabilize the spine after
a fracture or dislocation of the cervical spine
Cervical
Laminaplasty -The lamina is a flat portion of
bone that is the back portion of the vertebra. When
the spinal canal has become too small due to injury
or disease, it may be made larger by use of laminaplasty.
An incision is made down the back of the neck to expose
the cervical vertebrae. On one side of the vertebral
column, the lamina are cut through just far enough to
create a hinge-like movement, much like a door. Then
the lamina on the other side are cut all the way through
to, in effect, open the door. The back portion of the
vertebrae,
the spinous
processes (bumps you feel on the back) are removed to make
more room for the "door" to open. After gently
opening the "door" of each vertebra to create
more room for the spinal cord and nerve roots behind it,
bone wedges are inserted to keep the "door" from
totally closing. Then the "door" is closed securely
onto the wedges, resulting in an expanded "doorway"
for the nerves.
CHARITÉ™ Artificial
Disc
Artificial
Lumbar Disc Replacement... a Center of Excellence in Spinal Arthroplasty
Southeastern Spine Center was
the first in Florida to perform an artificial lumbar disc
replacement after the FDA approval in December 2004, using
DePuy Spine’s CHARITÉ™
Artificial Disc. This revolutionary treatment
option is an alternative to spinal fusion for patients that
have one diseased disc level and have failed 6 months of conservative
treatment. The benefits include:
An alternative to spinal fusions
that allows for motion with bending forward and backwards
that a fusion doesn’t allow.
Pain relief with a quicker
recovery period post- operatively.
Spinal fusion can put additional
pressure on the disc above or below the affected disc, due
to the fixed stabilization, this can lead to additional
damage and potential surgeries. The artificial disc is believed
to eliminate this pressure, thus reducing any potential
surgeries to adjacent discs.
Our
surgeons will be able to determine if you are a candidate for
this procedure with an initial consultation.
This surgery is done as an inpatient surgical
procedure that is completed with an abdominal approach. The
patient will remain in the hospital 1-2 days after the surgery.
Activity is limited to 5 lbs weight lifting
for 4 weeks. More strenuous activity such as jogging and tennis
is allowed at 3 months. There are no restrictions at 6 months.
For more information about the
CHARITÉ™
Artificial Disc visit www.charitedisc.com.
New Technological Surgeries
