Spine Surgery
At Northwest Health - La Porte, we offer surgical approaches to treat back pain and injuries. Doctors provide care for everything from whiplash and spinal trauma to herniated discs, synovial cysts, osteoporosis and more. 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 advanced treatments such as:
-
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 of 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.
Surgeons utilize minimally invasive options whenever possible, but when traditional techniques offer the best solution, the specialists have the training and expertise to perform even the most complex procedures, including spinal reconstructive surgery, revision surgery (to correct previous operations), and surgery to correct curvature of the spine (scoliosis).