Treatment Smith-Peterson (Posterior) Osteotomy

Smith-Peterson (Posterior) Osteotomy

Smith Petersen Osteotomy (Posterior): Definition, Purpose, Preparation, Procedure, and Results

What is a Smith Petersen Osteotomy?

Spinal deformities have been a common occurrence in today’s population, especially in elderly people. Aside from that, spinal deformities can arise from a number of causes and origins such as inflammatory, idiopathic and congenital. These deformities can be debilitating for the user to have, both functionally, physically, and psychologically.

Osteotomies are life-saving procedures that can remedy some of these severe spinal deformities. Currently, there are two types of osteotomies that are commonly in use in the medical field. Despite having different origins, these two osteotomies are used interchangeably.

- The first osteotomy is the Ponte-type osteotomy, a wide segmental osteotomy followed by posterior compressions along regions that are relatively unfused and are plagued with kyphotic deformity, most commonly in patients with Scheuermann’s kyphosis.

- The second one is the Smith Petersen Osteotomy, a technique utilizing the posterior (back) vertebral body (middle column) as the fulcrum to correct deformity through fused disc spaces.

In more simple terms, spine osteotomies, both Ponte type, and Smith Peterson are surgical procedures in which a certain section of the spinal bone is cut and then removed to allow for the correction of the alignment of the spine. Spine osteotomy is reserved for the correction of severely deformed, rigid and fixed spinal irregularities, where non-surgical processes don’t work. Spine osteotomy is also used when the deformities get worse over time. The difference between the various spine osteotomies out there is both the location of the spinal deformity and the amount of surgery that is required to correct it.

Smith Petersen Osteotomy: What is the Purpose of the Procedure?

Smith Petersen Osteotomy serves the purpose of correcting spinal deformities in patients who require a small amount of correction. Smith Petersen Osteotomy also serves the purpose of correcting spinal deformity that occurs in conditions such as iatrogenic flat back, ankylosing spondylitis, Scheuermann’s kyphosis, and various neuromuscular, congenital and degenerative disorders.

Smith Petersen Osteotomy can effectively alleviate symptoms of early fatigue, subjective sense of imbalance, unbearable pain and a tendency to lean forward (stooping) that is common to these types of conditions. Lastly, a Smith Petersen Osteotomy can reduce pain in patients and restore their balance so that they are able to stand erect properly without putting much effort in flexing their knees and hips.

Smith Petersen Osteotomy: How to Prepare for the Procedure

There are certain precautions and preparations you can take if you are planning to undergo a Smith Petersen Osteotomy, in order to make the operation more successful. The preparations that you can take largely depend on what the doctor or surgeon will advise you to do, but in general, here are some useful tips you can use to prepare yourself for the procedure :

- Avoid Smoking Completely- for at least two weeks before undergoing the surgery and possibly a few months after. This may be difficult for smokers to do but smoking and the nicotine byproduct of the process can slow healing to a point that it increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis from happening. Deep vein thrombosis is a potentially deadly blood clot that can occur right after a surgery.

- Avoid Taking certain medications- this step largely depends on the advice of your physician. Medications such as NSAIDs and Aspirin should be avoided as they can make blood more difficult to clot, and may suppress the ability of the immune system to combat infection.

- Avoid drinking- for at least a week before surgery as alcohol can impair the effects of anesthesia from taking place.

- Take proper care of the area to be operated on- some measures that can be used to enforce this is the proper daily washing of the area where the procedure is to be performed so that chances of postoperative infection are decreased. Your doctor may choose to prescribe you specific antiseptics, or antimicrobial skin cleansers. These substances may also be used post-operation to take care of the wound.

The patient should also take special care that the skin around the area to be operated on should be free from irregularities and problems that can negatively affect it. Some of these problems include sunburns, scrapes, and even poison ivy wounds.

Smith Petersen Osteotomy: The Procedure

Smith Petersen Osteotomy is done by surgically removing a small amount of the affected bone’s section from the back of the spine (posterior). This removal causes the spine to lean more toward the back. Other joints are also removed from this area, namely the facet and posterior ligament joints.

Smith Petersen Osteotomy: Results

With recent developments in the medical field, especially in the field of spinal surgical procedures, the results of Smith Petersen osteotomy have largely improved and have had fewer and fewer number of casualties throughout the years.

You might also like to read:
- Growth Friendly Scoliosis Surgery,
- Hemi-epiphysiodesis.

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Questions & Answers

What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Age2B

4 answers

What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?

Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat 5-10 times
Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

Age2B

4 answers

How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Age2B

4 answers