Spine & Neck Surgery

Cervical discectomy and fusion surgery relieves symptoms caused by a bulging or degenerative disc in the neck. During this procedure, our fellowship-trained team of spine surgeons and neurosurgeons remove the ruptured portion of the disc and any disc fragments that are causing pressure on the nerves. Then a bone graft is inserted into the empty disc space with metal plates and screws. This serves as a “bridge” between the two vertebrae to create a spinal fusion as the bones heal around the graft. This surgical procedure may relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure and alleviate the pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.

At OrthoColorado Hospital we understand back pain is a common problem, with no simple solutions. When back pain caused by spinal stenosis fails to improve with more conservative medical treatment — it may be time to consider lumbar laminectomy surgery. By removing the lamina — the back part of a vertebra that covers your spinal canal, lumbar laminectomy enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. Lumbar laminectomy is also used to relieve pressure on spinal cord caused by degenerative discs, tumors, bone spurs, or disc fragments. In some cases, spinal fusion may be done at the same time to help stabilize sections of the spine treated with laminectomy. Fusion uses a combination of bone graft, screws, and rods to connect two separate vertebrae together into one new piece of bone. Fusing the joint prevents the spinal stenosis from recurring and can help eliminate pain from an unstable spine.

As with many types of back injuries as well as spinal arthritis – incapacitating low-back pain can occur when the vertebrae shift and move against each other. The goal of lumbar fusion surgery is to permanently join two vertebrae together to reduce spine pain during daily activities. The main technique used in lumbar fusion surgery is bone grafting, which fuses the vertebrae together naturally. Bone grafts supports can be artificial or taken from another area of an individual’s body. The fusion typically involves supplemental hardware such as plates, screws and cages to hold the vertebrae together while the bone grafts heal. Ultimately this treatment can lead to a better quality of life for patients who experience chronic back pain. Rest assured, at OrthoColorado Hospital our highly-experienced team of spine surgeons and neurosurgeons believe lumbar fusion surgery should only be considered after more conservative approaches have failed.

Spine surgery is traditionally done with a long “open” incision. However, technological advances have allowed more back conditions to be treated with minimally invasive spine surgery, which is performed through smaller incisions. This type of surgery is possible with the assistance of a small device or camera designed for viewing internal portions of the body. Small surgical instruments are also passed through the incisions to work on the spine. Compared to traditional surgery, minimally invasive procedures cause less harm to nearby muscles and other tissues, resulting in less pain and faster recovery after surgery. Minimally invasive approaches are appealing to patients who want to resume their normal routines quickly. They also make surgical intervention possible for many older patients and those previously considered poor candidates for surgery. At OrthoColorado Hospital, our expert spine team includes surgeons who are specially trained on this procedure. They will discuss with you whether minimally invasive surgery is right for you, your condition and your health needs.

A cervical laminectomy is a surgical procedure designed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerve by widening the spinal canal. In short, a small section of bone in the back of the neck, called the lamina, is removed to create more space for the nerves and enlarge the spinal canal. As a result, the pressure on the spinal nerves is eliminated, ultimately decreasing pain and discomfort.

At OrthoColorado Hospital our fellowship-trained team of spine surgeons and neurosurgeons are highly experienced in performing microdiscectomy surgery for lumbar (back) and cervical (neck) pain. Lumbar microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive operation that uses a surgical microscope and microsurgical techniques to access and treat the lumbar spine by removing part of a herniated disc or disc fragments to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord. Similarly, a cervical microdiscectomy uses the same procedure to remove a portion of a damaged disc in the neck. The most common spinal condition treated with a microdiscectomy procedure is a disc herniation since it applies pressure on one or more nerve roots causing back pain, weakness, and numbness.

OrthoColorado Hospital offers the revolutionary Globus ExcelsiusGPS® robot. This advanced technology offers patients with spinal injuries and disorders the confidence of highly precise, minimally invasive surgery.

Prior to surgery, medical images are taken and imported into the ExcelsiusGPS® system. These images are used by your surgeon to determine the size and placement of screws and create a surgical plan based on your anatomy.

This is used to guide the robotic arm to a specific region of your spine, similar to a planned route on a GPS. The surgeon follows this route to precisely place the screws with the instrument.

Throughout the procedure, the surgical instruments and implants are continuously displayed on the screen for your surgeon to monitor. This display allows your surgeon to view live feedback during your procedure for more precise implant placement.

The level of accuracy and sophistication that the ExcelsiusGPS® system provides gives patients the least risk and the best outcomes. Other potential benefits are smaller incisions, less scarring, a shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery.

The thoracic spine is the mid-region of the spine that runs from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. Instability in this part of the spine can cause debilitating pain in the upper and middle back. The goal of thoracic spine fusion is to stabilize the vertebrae in the spine and eliminate the movement between them. This is done by placing bone grafts or bone graft substitutes in between the affected vertebrae to promote bone growth and eventually fuse the vertebrae into a single, solid bone. Thoracic fusion surgery is most commonly used to treat deformities like scoliosis and kyphosis, as well as cases of trauma, where the thoracic spine is fractured. While we firmly believe spine surgery should only be considered after all conservative treatment options have been explored, our national reputation for spine care excellence means OrthoColorado Hospital patients travel from across the country to seek surgical solutions from our highly experienced team of spine surgeons and neurosurgeons.