Spine Surgery

What is spine surgery?

Spine surgery at NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin uses cutting-edge equipment and procedures to repair spine problems or other issues that contribute to back pain, neck pain, or other types of discomfort. The highly trained team at NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin offers numerous spine surgery options based on your symptoms, diagnosis, and goals.

The advanced surgical techniques used by the team at NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin result in smaller incisions, less scarring, a shorter recovery, and a lower risk of complications. 

During robotic spine surgery, your provider utilizes robotic arms and a console to complete surgery, optimizing accuracy and precision.  

Which conditions can spinal surgery address?

Spine surgery at NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin can treat the following conditions and their symptoms:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Leg pain
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning discomfort
• Disc herniation
• Spinal stenosis (narrow spinal canal)
• Bone spurs
• Spinal tumors
• Spinal instability 
• Pinched nerve
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Arthritis
• Age-related wear on the spine
• Spinal deformities
• Spinal infections 
• Degenerative disc disease
• Vertebral compression fractures

See a spine specialist at the first sign of a problem to minimize pain and prevent debilitating complications. 

Am I a candidate for spine surgery?

The NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin team determines if you’re a candidate for spine surgery after a discussion about your medical history and symptoms, a physical exam, and diagnostic testing. You might need nerve testing, an MRI, a CT scan, or X-rays to diagnose your condition and properly treat it.

Your provider may suggest you first try physical therapy, non-surgical spinal decompression, or other conservative treatments before spinal surgery.

What can I expect during spine surgery?

Follow your provider’s instructions to prepare for spine surgery. Arrange for someone to drive you home, and stop taking certain medications if asked to. 

You might receive general anesthesia to make you fall asleep or local or regional anesthesia with a sedative. Your surgeon makes an incision and removes, replaces, alters, or inserts tissues or medical devices into your spine. 

Examples of spine surgeries performed at NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin include:

• Lumbar laminectomy for stenosis
• Lumbar and cervical instrumentation surgery for instability caused by tumor, trauma, infection, or degenerative conditions such as spondylolisthesis
• Cervical and lumbar discectomy for disc herniation
• Anterior and posterior lumbar interbody fusion for degenerative disc disease

The team also performs spinal decompression, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulator implantation, and spinal cord stimulator replacement surgery.

Your specialist closes any incisions after surgery. The procedure might last an hour or longer, depending on the type of spine surgery you undergo.

What happens after spine surgery?

After surgery, it’s vital to follow all instructions. You might stay in the surgery center for a night or two. Have a family member or friend drive you home and stay with you. Take medications as instructed, get plenty of rest, and keep the incision site clean. Avoid strenuous activity until your specialist says it’s okay, and attend all follow-up appointments.

Book an appointment at NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin by phone today to determine if you’re a candidate for spine surgery.