Lumbar Spinal fusion

Minimally invasive procedures mean they are as unintrusive as possible. Spinal refers to anything having to do with the spine. Fusion is the process of bones fusing or growing together into one bone. Thoracic refers to the spine region in the upper and middle back. While lumbar refers to the lower back region.

A minimally invasive spinal fusion of the lower spine (lumbar) is a procedure that minimizes cutting and limits disruption of the body’s tissues. A minimally invasive lumbar fusion can be done with a posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), or a transforaminal interbody lumbar fusion (TLIF).

In a PLIF or TLIF, the surgeon is able to do a fusion of the front and back columns of the spine in one procedure. This is done through the back and the bones will fuse together as they heal. 

Lumbar Laminectomy

To relieve compression on the spinal nerve roots, a doctor may recommend a lumbar laminectomy. This procedure involves the removal of a portion of the lamina. What makes it minimally invasive is that the surgeon uses specialized instruments that can separate the muscles instead of cutting. This approach results in less loss of blood and soft-tissue disruption, resulting in a quicker recovery and return to activity.

Discectomy

A discectomy is a minimally invasive procedure to relieve pain from a herniated disc. Using specialized instruments, the surgeon makes a small incision and inserts a tube to minimize disrupting the tissue. This consists of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Because of the minimal disruption, there’s little blood loss and faster recovery. After gently moving tissue out of the way and performing a laminectomy, the surgeon removes the piece of disc material that compresses on the nerve.

Internal fixation on Thoracic & Lumbar Fractures

Internal fixation is a procedure to repair bone fractures. Typically, it involves using screws to hold the fractured bone in place while it heals. In setting a fracture, the surgeon repositions the fragment to where they should be aligned. Then, they use screws to keep the bone in place while it heals. Screws can be permanent or removed after the bone heals.

Internal fixation allows patients to return to their activities faster. The procedure also has a high rate of healing properly.