Michael A. Schafer Blog

Auto Accidents

9/18/2008
Mike Schafer
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Different Types of Back Surgery

When you are involved in a car accident, a truck accident or a motorcycle accident there is a good chance that you will injure your back. The severity of this injury can vary. Some times rest will alleviate the pain. Other times a few months of chiropractic care will eliminate your pain. Unfortunately, there are times when surgery is the only option. As with any surgery that is recommended by your doctor it is always a good idea to get a second opinion. This is particularly true when someone is faced with back issues. They are often complex and can affect other parts of your body. It can take a team of medical professionals to diagnose and treat various back traumas.

There are several different forms of back surgery that are available, you should be aware of the different options so you can be informed when discussing this very important issue with your doctor. Some of the different procedures are:

Diskectomy In this surgery a portion of a disk, the herniated portion, is removed to allow relief of pressure on a nerve. It is done as an open surgery where the surgeon cuts skin and tissue to allow direct access to the involved organ. This surgery will usually involve removing part or the entire back portion of a vertebra to access the ruptured disk.
Laminectomy In a laminectomy the lamina which is the part of the back of the bony arch of each vertebra is removed. This surgery will enlarge the spinal canal to relieve pressure caused by spinal stenosis.
Fusion This is when two or more bones in your spine are permanently connected. The fusion will add stability to a spinal fracture or when there is a lot of movement between vertebra which will reduce pain. This surgery is also used to help with pain when the disk has been injured or has degenerated.
Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy This is also referred to as IDET. This treatment is where the doctor will insert a needle through a catheter directly into the disk. At this point the needle is heated to a high temperature for as long as 20 minutes. The result is the heat will thicken and also seal the disk wall which will reduce the disk bulge and the nerve irritation.
Vertebroplasty This procedure is for fractured or compressed vertebrae to help stabilize fractures and relieve pain. In this particular procedure the doctor will inject bone cement into the compressed vertebrae. This procedure is used with another procedure where a balloon type instrument is inserted to expand the compressed vertebrae before the cement is injected.
Artificial Disks This is a new treatment and is still being studied. Artificial disks are implanted as an alternative to spinal fusion for relief from pain caused by degenerated or injured disks. It is not clear whether these new devices are a viable surgery option.
- Plasma Disc Decompression This is a new option for people who have suffered a back injury in a car or truck accident and have not responded to conservative care. Individuals suffering from a bulging or herniated disc may be a good canidate for this procedure. In many cases Plasma Disc Decompression could provide an alternative to a more invasive back surgery, such as a disc fusions It is described as a minimally invasive procedure that allows you to go home on the same day of the procedure.

As you can see there are several options in varying range. As with so many issues the smartest way to address them is to find out as much as you can about your options. Do your home work so you can make an informed decision and hopefully achieve a pain free life.

Mike Schafer is an accident attorney in Louisville, Kentucky. For additional information go to mikeschaferlaw.com