Any surgery in the lower back (lumbar spine) is called lumbar spine
surgery. Our spine is made up of a number of bones stacked up on each other
separated by cushiony disk-like tissue. These bones are circular in shape and
form a tube-like structure through which the nerves connecting the brain to the
body are passed.
Any problem with the spine is caused when there is a problem with
one of these three elements. These problems can be classified as:
•
Disruption in the intervertebral disc.
•
Abnormal motion of the vertebra
•
Compression of the nerves.
There are two main types of surgeries performed in the spine hospitals in India to treat the
defect in the lumbar spine (L1-S1 Levels). These surgeries are Lumbar
decompression surgery and Lumbar fusion surgery. The type of surgery performed
depends on what kind of problem is the patient is suffering from. For instance,
a decompression lumbar spine surgery is performed in case of a lumbar herniated
disk, a condition where the disk tears and the nerves can leak through the
spine. This condition can cause extreme pain I the back, neck and legs and make
it difficult for the patient to perform mundane tasks.
Spine treatment in India has advanced through the years. The surgery is performed using
latest technology machinery and highly experienced doctors. They perform a complete diagnosis before the
patient it takes for the surgery. In fact, the doctors advise the patient to
try different methods to treat the pain before jumping into the surgery as it
is a little complicated and can disturb a patient’s life for a little while.
A lumbar decompression spine surgery is usually performed to release
the pressure from the spine in order to reduce the pain. In this surgery, a
small portion of bone is removed from the spine that is inserting pressure on
the nerves or the disk. This not only removes the pressure from the nerve but
also gives the nerve space to heal.
Microdiscectomy and Laminectomy are the two most commonly performed
Lumbar decompression surgeries. Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive method
and provides an almost instant relief in case of leg pain. For numbness and
weak muscles, it can take a few weeks to heal after the surgery. Whereas,
Laminectomy is an open procedure and has the risk of lumbar stenosis.
The other lumbar spine surgery is lumbar fusion surgery. In this
surgery, two vertebrae are joined together through a bone graft in order to
stop the motion and reduce the pain. It is performed in cases of lumbar
degenerative disc disease or spondylolisthesis. The lumbar fusion spine surgery
tends to reduce the mobility but it is mostly unnoticeable in case of two to
three vertebrae.
Whichever surgery that may be performed on the patient, he or she
must follow the care plan given by the doctor in order to make sure that the
recovery is successful. Moreover, the doctor may also suggest physical therapy
to relax the stiffened muscles around the operated area.
