Spinal Surgery

Spinal Surgery Overview

Spinal surgery is a specialist area of orthopaedic surgery dealing with injuries and disorders of the spine bones, joints and their associated soft tissues, including ligaments, nerves and muscles.

The bones that principally make up the spinal column are known as vertebrae. The Vertebrae are stacked on top of each other in a gentle 's' shaped curve, which are bonded together by flexible discs known as Intervertebral Discs. There are 24 Vertebrae and the spinal column is sub divided into 5 regions:

• Cervical Spine (neck)
• Thoracic Spine (upper back)
• Lumber Spine (lower back)
• Sacral Spine (sacrum)
• Coccyx (base)

Types of Surgery

Spinal Surgery can be performed for five types of conditions or injuries:

• Congenital: A deformity that requires corrective surgery related to a condition you were born with
  
• Acquired: A condition that develops gradually. This type of condition can often be acquired through a repetitive type of movement related to an occupation, hobby or sport.
  
• Chronic: A gradual degenerative condition that causes damage and deterioration to once normal structures, such as osteoarthritis.
  
• Acute: A condition that requires corrective surgery to relieve a sudden onset of a condition, such as an infection
  
• Trauma: A significant injury that requires corrective surgery such as a fracture, rupture or dislocation. 

 
Spinal surgery explained in more detail

Please click on any of the following Spinal conditions to link to a detailed explanation of a condition and its related surgical procedure:

• Arthroscopic Spinal Surgery
• Cervical Spine Surgery
• Discectomy
• Facet Joint Injections
• Fusion Surgery
• Laminectomy
• Lumbar Spine Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)
• Pain Relief Treatments
• Spinal Decompression
• Spinal Fusion
• Thoracic Spine Surgery

Are there any risks associated with Spinal surgery?

Although Spinal Surgery is regularly performed without any complications, it is very important that all candidates are fully aware of both the benefits and risks of undertaking this type of specialist surgery.

All surgery, no mater how expertly or carefully it is performed, carries risks and the importance of a full evaluation and consultation to discuss your condition in relation to these risks cannot be over emphasised.

How do I find out if I am a suitable candidate for Spinal surgery?

Surgical Advisor will be delighted to help you find a leading expert in Spinal surgery to consult with. Your surgeon will carry out a thorough evaluation of your condition and provide you with a comprehensive explanation of the most appropriate surgical solution.
 
Our Expert Consultant Orthopaedic and Neuro Surgeons are most carefully selected and recommended because they understand the importance of the decision you are making when contemplating complex spinal surgery and because of their specialist spinal surgery expertise. Throughout your consultation you will therefore be encouraged to ask as many questions as you wish and to take your time in making a decision to proceed with any recommended treatment.

To ensure that patients are comfortable with any recommendations or advice given in their consultation, all patients are asked to go away after a consultation and think through all the information they have received. If for whatever reason you are still not sure about the best course of action and wish to have further dialogue with your surgeon, you will not be expected to pay for a second consultation appointment.

How do I make a consultation appointment?

For further advice on how to make an appointment to consult with an expert spinal surgeon: 

Please call Surgical Advisor on: 0870 41 41 41 2
Or email us by clicking on: advice@surgicaladvisor.com