Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Artificial Disc Replacement

The Spine is a part of our body which holds up our weight and makes our body upright. The Spinal cord is made up of 24 immovable parts and it is the most important part of our body because, without the spinal cord, the body cannot communicate with the brain. Spinal cord acts as a bridge between the body and the brain which are connected through nerve fibers.

Artificial Disc Replacement 

Alignment of the body is important and spine is responsible for that. Alignment is said to be good when your head, shoulders, spine, hips, knees, and ankles line with each other. A bad posture leads to a bad alignment which further results in a hump in the spine. Spinal cord and our brain are also known as our body’s central nervous system in which every command from the brain will travel through the spine to reach its destination.

What is Artificial Disc Replacement and who needs it?

Artificial Disc Replacement is a surgery in which a painful disc is replaced with an artificial one. Artificial discs can be replaced from anywhere in the spine. The discs are made into exact replica so that they mimic the original one. A serious injury to spine like falling from stairs or falling down from the chair or an injury while playing sports or a serious back pain are some of the major causes that lead to Artificial DiscReplacement.

Degenerative disc disease is said to be diagnosed when the degeneration of the invertible discs is seen. This can be caused by daily stress or minor injuries while playing or just accidental. An injury leads to the loss of water from the annulus which further weakens it. As the annulus begins to get weak, the space between the discs shortens down and starts to collapse. This results in the pressure and the pain that is being put on the nerves which in the end weakens them. This condition can lead to chronic back and neck pain which can be cured by Artificial Disc Replacement.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is done with a minimum opening in the spine are and using special instruments such as robotic hands to reach the affected area. Because of the advanced technology, the traditional method of spine surgery is kept behind and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery is opts as the incisions made are about 5-6 inches wide. This type of surgery is less risky and doesn’t require too many stitches. This surgery is done to decompress the nerves and the nerve endings which are either pinched or twisted and causes a lot of pain.  After this surgery, the pressure is reduced or lifted up and pain is minimized too. Stabilization of the spine is also needed and it is done with advanced technology or robotic hands. Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery makes small incisions, less bleeding and shorter stay at the hospital.

 These surgeries are the last resort for your chronic pain or spine injuries. These are done when the pain medicines and non-surgical treatments fail to impress.