Which conditions can back surgery address?
The team of experts at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center begins with a conservative approach when treating back pain. However, some conditions require surgery to resolve your pain completely. The team has extensive experience performing back surgery to address a variety of problems that cause back pain and other symptoms. Some of these include:
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal fractures
- Herniated discs
- Nerve impingement
- Severely degenerated discs
The team specializes in minimally invasive back surgery guided by robotic navigation using the ExcelsiusGPS™ Globus robotic surgery system.
How do I know if back surgery is right for me?
If you have radiating or non-radiating pain in your upper or lower back and you’ve tried nonsurgical treatments without success, you may be a candidate for back surgery.
To determine whether surgery is right for you, the skilled providers at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery perform a consultation, including a comprehensive physical exam, a review of your medical history, and diagnostic imaging such as X-rays or an MRI.
What should I expect if I need back surgery?
The team performs back surgery procedures at the outpatient surgery center at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery. Most procedures require general anesthesia, so you’ll need someone to drive you home after your surgery.
Your surgeon makes small incisions and uses slender surgical instruments or robotically enhanced tools to perform the procedure. A tiny camera allows your surgeon to view the inside of your body on a monitor, so larger incisions aren’t required for the majority of surgeries.
When your surgery is complete, your surgeon closes your incisions with dissolving sutures. You’ll go home with pain medication and instructions for at-home care and any activities to avoid. If staples need to be removed, you return to Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery approximately 10 days later. Otherwise, you may not be seen for a couple of weeks. The team will call patients in the days following surgery to check up on their progress.
What benefits does minimally invasive back surgery offer?
Because minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgical procedures require much smaller incisions and less severing of muscle and other tissues, they have advantages over traditional open surgery. Some of the benefits of same-day, outpatient surgery include:
- Reduced bleeding
- Minimal scarring
- Shorter recovery times
With an outpatient procedure, you don’t have to spend time recovering in the hospital. You can return to work and many everyday activities quickly, so you don’t have to worry about missing important events or obligations.
To schedule a consultation for back surgery at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center call today or book online.
