The Latest Spine Surgery Techniques
Surgical Spinal Decompression
Degenerative changes in the spine can lead to pinching of spinal nerves or the spinal cord causing pain, numbness, decreased hand dexterity, or trouble walking.
Surgical spinal decompression is removing portions of disk, bone, or ligaments to give the neural structures more space.
This can be achieved in a variety of ways including traditionally “open surgery”, more modern minimally invasive techniques.
The minimally invasive techniques are performed as outpatient surgery and have a faster recovery time.
Dr. Mehan offers tubular decompression and endoscopic surgery.
Spinal Fusion
In some cases, parts of the spine that provide critical structural support of the spine need to be removed allow for the nerves to be decompressed. In these cases spinal fusion may be necessary.
There are a variety of surgical approaches to get to the spine for fusion, based on the spinal level and surrounding body anatomy.
Some of the approaches used include
ACDF - Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
PSF - Posterior spinal fusion
ALIF - Anterior lumbar interbody fusion
LLIF- Lateral lumbar interbody fusion
TLIF- Transforaminal interbody fusion
Dr. Mehan utilizes the latest technologies, and utilizes imaged guided navigation and will use robotics for hardware placement when appropriate.
Spinal Disc Replacement
In select cases lumbar or cervical disc replacement may be an option to provide indirect spinal decompression and allow for the natural motion of the spine.
Dr. Mehan offers and performs lumbar disc replacement and cervical disc replacement.