Advantages of laser spinal surgery

Many patients who suffer from chronic back pain are ultimately required to go in for a surgical intervention in order to rectify their condition once and for all. Patients suffering from herniated disks or degenerative diseases, spinal arthritis, pinched nerves or spinal stenosis are often subjected to recurring pain in the arm, back, groin, neck or leg. Such pain (and some others like it) does not respond to conservative treatments. In such cases, a spinal surgery is the only way out of pain.

In the past, surgeons who operated on the spine resorted to large spinal incisions. Such extensive invasive surgery required patients to be hospitalized for lengthy periods of time. The surgical procedure was quite open to risks as the patient has to be sedated before the operation. Post operative care was lengthy as rehabilitation was slow.

However, in the last decade or so, laser spinal surgery has ushered in the era of minimal invasive procedures where surgeons carry out complicated surgical treatments in the outpatient department. Laser spinal surgery is one such treatment method. In a minimally invasive laser spinal surgery, the surgeon uses highly sophisticated optical and laser instruments to look at the area of surgery. The operation is done using lasers and fiber optic cameras besides a number of microscopic instruments.

Laser spinal surgery is performed using local anesthetic. It is generally done on an outpatient basis since there is no extensive incision inside the body. The use of laser technologies minimizes soft tissue damage and keeps the muscles intact.

Laser spinal surgery has a number of advantages for patients as well as doctors. Since there are no extensive cuts and incisions, patients are administered a local anesthetic. Also, the risk of post operative deterioration is quite minimal. There is minimal bleeding at the time of the procedure. Small incisions at the time of surgery allow patients to recover faster while undergoing less discomfort. Scar tissue formation is also kept to a minimum, thereby minimizing chances of development of ugly scars. Since recuperation time is low, patients can return to leading a fully active lifestyle in a short span of time.

It is interesting to note that most patients who require surgery for back problems suffer from multiple conditions. For instance, a patient may suffer from acute back pain caused by a pinched nerve but may also have back pain associated with facet disease. Depending on the surgical needs, laser spinal surgery allows doctors to conduct more than one procedure at a time. This keeps down the time and money requirements associated with the surgery. Also, patients need not return to the operating room for another procedure.