Spine Surgery
At Crestwood Medical Center, we offer treatment options for back pain and injuries. The specialized team of health care professionals diagnoses and treats spine disorders. We offer a range of minimally invasive options that involve just one or two small incisions – less than two centimeters each – in the neck, chest or back. Smaller incisions may result in less pain and scarring, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery.
We offer minimally invasive surgical options such as:
- Balloon kyphoplasty – Used to repair fractures caused by osteoporosis or cancer, balloon kyphoplasty acts as an internal cast that provides rapid relief from back pain and improves spinal alignment. In this procedure, the surgeon inflates a small balloon within the fractured vertebra and inserts bone cement to restore the original size and shape of the vertebrae.
- Lumbar disc microsurgery – This procedure is used to treat herniated discs of the lower back. A herniated disc is a condition in which the disc's inner, jelly-like material pushes through the outer layer of cartilage, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and causes pain. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision above the damaged disc to remove the damaged portion, leaving healthy tissue intact. As the area heals, the spinal cord returns to its normal position, alleviating the pain and pressure.
- Minimally invasive spinal fusion – For patients with severe degenerative disc disease, spinal instability or deformity, minimally invasive fusion can offer less pain and a quicker recovery than traditional surgery. In this procedure, the damaged disc is removed and a spacer is placed between the vertebrae to help restore alignment and relieve pain. Small pins and rods are inserted to provide stability while the bone heals. Rather than harvesting bone from the patient's pelvic bone, which can be a significant source of post-operative pain, this technique uses bone graft substitutes (osteobiologics) to enhance healing.
When traditional techniques offer the best solution, the surgeons at Crestwood Medical Center are able to perform procedures such as revision surgery (to correct previous operations), spinal reconstructive surgery and surgery to correct curvature of the spine (scoliosis).
Intra-operative Imaging and Surgical Navigation
Crestwood Medical Center offers an intra-operative imaging system and a surgical navigation system to assist with spine surgeries. Designed to integrate seamlessly, these advanced imaging and navigation systems enable our surgeons to pre-operatively plan treatment and operate in the complex and delicate area of the spine. The key to these technologies is the ability to deliver critical information to the surgeon and surgical team throughout a patient's surgery.
These technologies potentially provide:
- Speed: Fast access to real-time, multi-plane 3D images (and 2D images)
- Efficiency: Full support of the unique workflow of spinal procedures
- Safety: Radiation dose to staff and surgeon can be reduced to zero
- Precision: Computerized technology allowing for micro precision and accuracy of instrumentation within 1mm to anatomical locations
- Confidence in the OR: Confirmation scan of hardware and screws in real time before patient leaves operating room, potentially eliminating revision surgeries
- Facilitation of minimally invasive surgery: Greater visualization overcoming need for large/open incisions.
- Possible reduction in length of stay, infections, post-operative complications associated with traditional open surgery
Crestwood Medical Center's spine surgeons are using these integrated technologies for treatment planning and surgery for:
- Lumbar fusions including transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF), deformity anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
- Oblique and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF & PLIF) for spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and scoliosis requiring pedicle screw placement
- Posterior cervical fusions requiring screw placement for spinal stenosis, instability and complex deformity
- Minimally invasive (MIS) versions of all of the above procedures
Non-Surgical Spine Care Options
Crestwood Medical Center also offers non-surgical solutions to treat back and neck pain. We offer spinal injections and other therapies, including physical therapy, to alleviate pain and swelling. The rehabilitation specialists deliver a range of physical therapy treatments, including preventive and post-surgery recovery programs. A specialized care team offers a wide range of non-surgical treatments to meet each individual's needs.
Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks and benefits of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation.