Spine

  • Lumbar Microdiscectomy
  • Lumbar Laminectomy
  • Lumbar Posterior Fusions
  • Lateral Interbody Fusion / ATP
  • Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)

Overview

Many people suffer from back injuries or conditions which cause pain. For those who experience back pain, non-surgical treatments, such as physical therapy, medication, and spinal injections, are initially recommended. If the pain or condition isn’t resolved non-surgically, spine surgery may be the best decision. The most common types of spine surgery are laminectomy, microdiscectomy, and spinal fusions. 

If surgery is the best option for your spinal pain, the surgeon will typically perform open or minimally invasive spine surgery. Open spine surgery involves a large incision in the back or abdomen in order to perform the surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery involves a smaller incision and uses surgical aids to perform the surgery with limited exposure. Minimally invasive surgery typically allows for an earlier recovery; however, pain is expected after recovery from either surgery. It is important to talk to your doctor about what to expect before, during, and after the procedure to optimize your recovery and pain relief.

Before the Procedure

Your clinical care team, surgeon, and anesthesia provider will determine the best pain management solution specific to your post-operative plan.

Once you arrive at the hospital or surgery center, an anesthesia provider will determine which type of anesthesia is best for you and your surgery. Based on their assessment, your anesthesia provider may place a continuous nerve block catheter connected to a pain pump to extend your pain relief near the joint. The pump will allow a local anesthetic to be delivered to relieve pain near the surgical area.

Your surgeon also has the option to place the pain pump if that is their preference. With the surgeon’s placement, the catheter is inserted near the joint or surgical site during the procedure.

During the Procedure

If your anesthesia provider places your catheter, they will protect the catheter during the procedure. If your surgeon places the catheter, they will insert the catheter towards the end of the surgical procedure.

After the Procedure

Your surgeon will have discussed whether you will be admitted to the hospital after surgery or go home the same day. Pain is expected but should be tolerable. After the procedure, you will be educated on how to use your pain pump and any other pain medications. 

Your First Day at Home

Follow your clinician’s instructions regarding caretaker support, diet, recovery, and rehabilitation. They will also educate you on your pain pump prior to going home.

If you have questions or need more information on your pain pump, please check out our FAQ page and Resources page or call our 24/7 nurse hotline at 1-800-444-2728.

REFERENCES

https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/neuroscience-blog/2020/july/types-of-spine-surgery#:~:text=Laminectomy%20is%20a%20procedure%20that,nerves%20of%20the%20low%20back. 

https://www.shantispinesurgery.com/traditional-open-surgery-vs-minimally-invasive-spine-surgery/