Spine Archives

Definition of Spinal Fusion Surgery Spinal fusion surgery is performed to permanently join two or more bones of the spine. This eliminates movement between them. Spinal fusion surgery uses techniques that are designed to mimic the same process broken bones go through as they heal. Bone or material like a bone is placed in the space ...

What is Herniated Disk Treatment and surgery?  Herniated disc treatment often depends on the symptoms produced by the condition. A herniated disc occurs when the gel-like center of the disc breaks through its fibrous, outer shell. This can cause symptoms like pain and abnormal sensations in the legs or arms. Symptoms depend on where the herniation ...

What is Scoliosis? Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine curves in a sideways direction. Some curving of the spine is normal, but if the curves are too exaggerated, the condition can cause pain and other complications. Scoliosis usually occurs near the time of puberty, when a child is growing rapidly. It can be ...

Fitness for Back Pain: Causes and Exercises You Can Do What is Back Pain and what are the most common causes for it? One of the most commonly held beliefs, that is sometimes harmful as well, is that when a person is experiencing back pain, they should avoid exercising. It's easy to understand that many ...

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) What is Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion or ALIF? Anterior lumbar interbody fusion, also called ALIF, is a surgical procedure that is used to treat spinal problems like spinal instability, disc degeneration and deformities of the curves of the spine. In this operation, an anterior incision is made (from the front), ...

Spine Surgery Overview If you have had back pain for awhile, you may wonder if spine surgery is the only thing that may help you. In some cases, spine surgery is the only option. But there's good news. Most back disorders can be helped with treatments that don't involve spine surgery. These are referred to ...

What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery  Spinal surgery is performed traditionally using a long incision, but advances in technology are allowing more neck and back disorders to be treated using minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). Since minimally invasive spine surgery avoids the need for an extensive incision, it does not involve injury to the tissues ...

What is Spinal Decompression Surgery? Spinal decompression surgery is a broad term that includes several different procedures used to relieve the signs and symptoms caused by compression or pressure on the nerve roots or spinal cord. Bony growths, bulging discs, loosened ligaments or thickened joints can cause narrowing of the spinal canal and narrow the foramen, ...

Lateral Lumbar Fusion Lateral lumbar fusion is a surgical procedure which is performed due to leg and back pain. The goal of the procedure is to remove pressure from the spinal canal by fusing together the vertebrae which lie above and below the damaged disc. Patients who have spinal stenosis or degenerative curvature of the ...

Spinal Injections An injection is a way of getting medicine or other fluids into the body by a method other than the digestive system. In the United States injections into the subcutaneous layer of skin or the muscle are often called "shots" and in UK English they are often referred to as "jabs."  The medication ...