cooling tips

Endoscopic discectomy, a common type of endoscopic spinal surgery, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove herniated disc material that is causing pain in the lower back and legs (lumbar), mid back (thoracic), or neck and arms (cervical).

Endoscopic discectomy is the least invasive and effective surgical technique for treating spinal disc herniation patients. With endoscopic spine surgery, surgeons do not need to remove bones and muscles in order to remove herniated discs. Surgeons could see your spine with a iPhone size camera through a small surgical port (tube). Large incisions are avoided. The procedure does not traumatize your spine as all traditional spine surgeries do. The whole procedure for a disc herniation is taken about 30 minutes. Patient goes home in 2- 3 hours when the surgery is done in a surgery center.

Sciatica is a term used to describe the symptoms like: pain, weakness, numbness, burning or tingling in the leg.
Sciatica can be caused by lumbar hernaited disc, degenerative disc disease, lumbar stenosis or
spondylolisthesis.
As a disc degenerates and breaks down, the inner core can leak out through the outer portion of the disc.
This condition is known as a disc herniation, which puts direct pressure on the nerve.
In consequence of aging or trauma, the intervertebral disc can be damaged or degenerated.
Loss of disc height can cause bulging of the disc, putting pressure on the nerves exiting the spine.
Disc degeneration and facet joints overloading can cause their arthritic overgrowth.
This resultant loss of space in the foramen can cause squeezing or pinching of the nerve roots as they exit the
spine. This condition is called Lateral Stenosis.
Spondylolisthesis is a common lumbar spine problem when the disc is unstable and allows the upper vertebral
body to slide forward.

Together with the disc, the facet joints transfer loads and guide and constrain motions in the spine due to their geometry and mechanical function.

PLIF stands for Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion and is the angle taken when the surgeon gains access to the spine from a posterior (through the back) approach.

The facet joints are part of the connection between two adjacent vertebras.
Because the facet joints are almost constantly in motion, they simply degenerate from wear and tear or repetitive stresses and strains over time as we age.
The stress on the facet joints increases even more as the intervertebral disc degenerates and becomes thinner. This results in inflammation and formation of spinal bone spurs leading to arthritis of the facet joint, or facet syndrome.Arthritic joints can produce considerable pain and reflective muscle spasms.

Long-lasting pain relief is just a click or call away.

Learn about our advanced Minimally Invasive treatments, or use our free tools to discover your pain's cause.

Back & Neck Pain Pain Evaluation Tool - https://atlanticspinecenter.com/paina...




Understanding what's causing your back and neck pain is the first step to finding the proper treatment. Start your own evaluation to learn your back or neck pain's source.

The A-L-I-F is defined as Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
This approach requires a 4-6” incision in the abdomen to access one or two levels.
The surgeon works around the great vessels to access the anterior longitudinal ligament.
The ligament must be removed to access the disc.
The surgeon can then remove the diseased disc nucleus to prepare the vertebral bodies for fusion.
After the disc is prepared, a biocompatible polymer implant is filled with bone graft material and placed in the disc
space.
With an A-L-I-F implant, the surgeon may choose to add an anterior plate to replace the anterior ligament and
prevent movement of the implant.
This procedure is normally accompanied by a posterior fixation with pedicle screws or facet screws
The implant maintains the spacing of the vertebrae while the fusion takes place.
After the fusion is completed and a solid bone mass forms; the two vertebrae are joined together.

Between each of the moveable vertebra located the intervertebral disc.
In consequence of aging or trauma, the intervertebral disc can be damaged or degenerated.
Loss of disc height can cause bulging of the disc, putting pressure on the nerves exiting the spine.

The O-L-L-I-F is defined as “Oblique Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion”
To access the disc with O-L-L-I-F a specific zone is used - Kambin's triangle.
Kambin's triangle is a triangular space free of significant vascular and neural structures that allows safe access to
a lumbar disc in microdiskectomy.
First, a small probe is placed via tiny skin incision.
Then a taper 9mm dilator.
Next a small 10mm portal.
This portal protects the skin, muscles, and nerves while the diseased disc is removed and a bone graft material is
placed through it.
After the disc is prepared, the biocompatible polymer implant is filled with bone graft material and placed in the
disc space.
This procedure is normally accompanied by a posterior fixation with pedicle screws system.
The implant maintains the spacing of the vertebrae while the fusion takes place.
After the fusion is completed a solid bone mass forms and two vertebrae are joined together.
The maximum skin incision is smaller than a dime.
Compared to traditional spinal fusion procedures, the O-L-L-I-F is a less invasive surgical approach. Patients are
treated more effectively without long recovery times.

Mini-TLIF stands for Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion and is the angle taken when the surgeon gains access to the spine from a posterior approach but comes in from the side instead of a direct approach.