Lumbar Spinal Surgery - A Description
Lumbar spinal surgery is performed for the correction of problems in spinal bones, disks, vertebrae, and the nerves connected to the lower back or the lumbar spine. This surgery is performed on the lower back.
The lumbar spine is made up of five lumbar vertebrae. These vertebrae are separated by soft cushions known as intervertebral disks. With the gradual aging process, there is wear and tear and a gradual narrowing of the spinal canal. This may cause compression and pinching of the nerves that come out of the openings in the vertebrae. When the pressure on the nerves increases, it produces pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the lower part of the spinal cord. To relieve the patients from this pain and tingling, lumbar spine surgery is performed.
There are two types of lumbar spinal surgeries. These two most common procedures of lumbar spinal surgery are, namely decompression and spinal fusion. The detailed description of these two procedures of lumbar spinal surgery is separately given below:
Decompression lumbar back surgery: This procedure consists of removal of a small part of bone that presses over the root nerve, or from under the root nerve. This helps to relieve the patient from the pinching of the nerve. This provides more space to the nerves so that they can relax and heal. There are two ways to perform this surgery. These are microdiscectomy or micro-decompression and laminectomy or open decompression. For lumbar spinal surgery, any one of the two ways can be used. These procedures can result in either a high degree of success or trivial relief from the pain. These procedures of lumbar spine surgery help patients to get relieved from the pinching and consequent aching of the nerves. Lumbar spinal fusion: Lumbar spinal fusion is an effective way to cure lumbar back pain. This surgery involves treatment through the use of a bone graft. This bone graft is used to restrict the motion of the vertebral segment and thereby reduces pain in that vertebral segment or the joint. Lumbar spinal surgery through spinal fusion is very successful. New techniques have increased the success rate of this surgery. These days, lumbar spine surgery has become very common. Because of its good results, more and more people get it done in order to reduce the pain caused in the lumbar nerves. Lumbar spine surgery is performed under anesthesia.. In this surgery the surgeon makes an incision in the lower back nearest the site of the source of pain. The surgeon then removes the bone spur that presses on the nerve.. In this surgery, the surgeon may also widen the hole through which the nerve passes. This is done in order to remove the pressure on the nerves. The results of this surgery usually depend on the source of the problem or the severity of the injury in the lumbar spine. Usually the results of this surgery are positive. Lumbar spinal surgery has helped several patients to get relief from the pain caused in the lower back.
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