When should you consider Orthopedic Surgery?
Orthopedic surgeons have the skillset to examine diagnose and treat diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. They take care of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves, parts of the body that allow you to move, work and be active.
Orthopedic surgery helps millions of people with debilitating injury or disease return to their active lifestyles every year.
Any type of operation on the musculoskeletal system for the treatment of painful symptoms or restricted mobility can be a part of orthopedic surgery. Orthopedic Surgery may involve a relatively simple repair or removal of torn ligaments, tendons, or debris from joints through tiny poke-hole incisions as in arthroscopy or more complex procedures such as minimally invasive joint replacement surgery. Arthroscopy may also be used as a diagnostic tool to determine the cause of your joint pain.
Many people suffering with degenerative joint disease or painful orthopedic injuries are often hesitant or aren’t aware of the benefits of orthopedic surgery. Many patients can undergo outpatient orthopedic surgery and return home the same day.
Types of Surgeries Performed by Orthopedic Surgeons at Maplewood Surgery Center
Total Joint Replacement
Joint replacement is a surgical procedure that is performed to replace an arthritic or damaged joint with an artificial joint. Joint replacements can be performed on every joint in the body, but most commonly performed in the knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow. Less common procedures are performed on the wrist or ankle.
All joints contain cartilage, which protects joints and facilitates movement. If the joint has been injured, over time, the cartilage wears away and the bones of the joint start rubbing together. As the bones rub together and the joint becomes stiff and painful. Most people have joint replacement surgery when they can no longer control the pain with medication and other treatments and the pain is significantly interfering with their lives.
It may be time to consider surgery if you have tried conservative treatment options such as acupuncture, pain medications, injections, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications and still experience signs and symptoms of pain.
Orthopedic surgery can offer a safe and permanent solution to many bone and joint conditions. If you have been living with a minor orthopedic condition that does not seem to be getting better, the first step would be to visit your doctor or an orthopedic physician to obtain an accurate diagnosis and explore possible treatment options.
If you have any questions about these types of procedures, or to book an appointment to see one of our Orthopedic Surgeons, please call us at 651-471-9701.
Choosing the Right Spine Surgery Procedure
A spinal cord injury occurs from either damage to any part of the spinal cord or the spinal nerves. This creates sensation and changes in the normal body functions just below the affected area. Treatment of spinal cord injury focuses on prevention of further damage as well as providing patients with spinal cord injuries to live a more active life.
Surgery is typically necessary to prevent deformity and remove any foreign objects, bone fragments, fractured vertebrae, or herniated discs may be compressing the spine. Spinal cord surgery is used as the last resort since the spinal cord is the basis for the central nervous system.
Types of Spine Surgery Procedures
Most nerves operate from the spine, making it very vulnerable to Open Back Surgery.
Maplewood Surgery Center offers Endoscopic Spine Surgery to provide an option that can eliminating tissue injury and trauma. This also requires precise diagnosis, sophisticated equipment, and neurosurgical expertise to perform this type of procedure.
Many types of spine surgery can be done using endoscopic procedures, with less risk of developing complications. Endoscopic surgery can also allow for a quicker recovery time. Whether you and your surgeon decide on Endoscopic or Open Back Surgery, here are some of the options to consider:
Endoscopic Spine Surgery
This procedure is also referred to as Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS). It’s an innovative approach to spinal surgery. The method only requires a tiny incision in the lower back, without a pronounced dissection of the spinal nerves. Instead, the surgeon uses specialized surgical instruments to visualize the spinal structures and subsequently decompress the spinal nerves.
An Endoscope is used to transmit images to a monitor, and through the incision measuring less than 1 inch, the surgeon can view tiny structures using the equipment’s built-in magnification. When the surgery is complete, the instruments are removed and the small incisions fixed using sutures.
Pros of Endoscopic Spine Surgery:
The are many benefits of Endoscopic Spine Surgery including:
- Minimal risk of infection.
- There is minimal loss of blood as only an incision less than 1 inch is made of the muscles.
- There is minimal pain involved during and after the procedure.
- Recovery time is quicker as the patient is typically monitored for a few hours and released to resume a normal routine.
Cons of Endoscopic Spine Surgery:
- The procedure requires skills and research particularly when complex spinal problems are to be handled. Proper visualization of the surgical area becomes a challenge for most surgeons.
- With Endoscopic Spine Surgery, performing multi-level surgical procedures is technically challenging.
Open Back Surgery
This is a traditional approach to surgery commonly practiced by old-school neurosurgeons. During the procedure, the neurosurgeon makes a large incision (5-6 inches) in the patient’s back to visualize the affected disc and nerve root.
The surgeon then dissects the spinal muscles away from the bones. The procedure is most preferred when the patient has multiple complications in the spine.
Cons of Open Back Surgery:
- There is a higher risk of blood loss as a larger portion of the muscle is cut.
- Making a large incision on the patient’s back exposes the patient to the risk of developing other infections.
- Pain may increase and become persistent.
- Dissecting the back muscles may decrease mobility, increase recovery time, and affect the patient’s return to normalcy.
- The procedure is performed under general anesthesia which causes a greater risk of complications.
Bottom Line
It is important to have adequate information regarding a spinal cord surgery and the best approach to take. When weighing surgical options between Endoscopic Spine Surgery and Open Back Surgery, it is advisable to consult the doctor to help in the decision-making process. A trusted neurosurgeon should be in a position of addressing surgery-related concerns to enhance rapid recovery and return to normal lifestyle.
To reduce the risk of further spinal cord injury, one should wear a seat belt every time they drive, since car crashes are among the most common causes of spinal cord injuries. Also, care should be taken when engaging in sports activities to prevent falls resulting in spinal cord injury.
If you have any questions about our procedures, please call us at 651-471-9701.
