If you or a loved one is seeking information on spinal surgery in Dallas, then you may be confused with the differences between the two main types: traditional spine surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. Almost 80% of Americans suffer from back pain and undergo some type of spine surgery or at least look into procedures. Many neurosurgeons aren’t qualified to perform both methods, and it is important to understand what is involved in each type of surgery.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
This is the more modern form of spine surgery and is performed by many neurosurgeons in Dallas and other parts of the country. It is a sophisticated spinal surgery that requires minimal disruption of the spine muscles and tissues and provides the fastest post-surgery recovery period. Neurosurgeons in Dallas are taking the time to specialize in this type of surgery and utilize new technologies to get a clearer view of the spine and how to target issues. Advanced technologies include visual monitors that can control surgery screws and instruments with electrode impulses, retractors to gently keep tissue away from bones that must be taken out during surgery, as well as spinal fusion for an easier surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery produces the least painful surgery, provides the smallest surface scar possible, and allows for quicker recovery and healing periods than traditional forms.
Traditional Spine Surgery
In traditional surgery of the spine, neurosurgeons have to first determine which side of the body to begin the operation, either the front or the back. Anterior point of entry, or the front, is typically used the most because it is easier to maneuver around the organs, although it isn’t always possible. Traditional surgery is usually used in extreme cases of spinal damage, such as when a bone has been broken or chipped, or when a disc becomes inflamed and causes extreme pain.
This type of surgery is usually a last resort for neurosurgeons in Dallas, as it causes the patient to endure a longer hospital visit, longer recovery, and typically a larger scar.
Other forms of spinal treatment include non-surgical therapy. This is a controversial treatment because there are still questions and concerns for how this procedure can affect the overall lifestyle of the patient. Non-surgical spinal treatments include the injection of steroids into the bulging spinal disc, which can affect the nerves of the lumbar or other lower-back vertebrae. It provides short-term treatment of back pain for patients that feel uneasy about undergoing spinal surgery.
With today’s advancing technologies in medical equipment and treatments, neurosurgeons in Dallas have made the serious procedure of spinal surgery now available as a minimally invasive way to treat back pain and permanently correct the issue.