Back surgery is a procedure that aims to change a patient's anatomy, such as removing a herniated disc that is causing pain, with the purpose of providing pain relief. Back surgeries vary, with some procedures minimally invasive and allowing for quick recovery and others more extensive and requiring longer recoveries.
Some conditions, including disc herniation or spinal stenosis, compress the nerves within the spinal column which can lead to pain, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, and other more severe symptoms. Spinal surgery is typically required with this condition to avoid permanent impairment. This can be accomplished through surgeries like a laminectomy, ALIF, or XLIF.
An unstable spine is defined as the inability of the spinal column to maintain its natural form under normal usage conditions. A healthy spine provides structure, protection, and support for the body, but an unstable spine can no longer hold together the spinal ligaments, muscles, disc, and bones in such a way as to provide these essential functions.
We see unstable spines in a lot of conditions including spinal fractures, spondylolisthesis, and even sometimes an extreme disc injury. Surgery is often required if symptoms progress to intractable back pain, leg pain, or significant neurologic problems from a pinched nerve.
Some conditions, including scoliosis, kyphosis, and flat-back syndrome, affect the natural curvature of the spine and result in various impairments.
Scoliosis and kyphosis are typically managed non-operatively through bracing and physical therapy, but in instances in which the spinal curvature exceeds a certain degree, surgical intervention is required to realign the spine. The same is true for flat-back syndrome if symptoms are not relieved through non-operative measures.