WHAT IS REVISION SPINE SURGERY?
Revision spine surgery corrects chronic back pain resulting from a previous spine surgery. (The chronic pain following back surgery is known as failed back syndrome.)
In the initial surgery, the primary goal is to weld the vertebrae together through fusion. In order to ensure that the weld takes hold, screws, hooks and rods are used to keep the spine stable. However, complications can arise following the surgery, leaving the patient with persistent pain and other symptoms. These include:
- Arthritis that forms due to accelerated wear and tear on the spine
- Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the spinal discs (cushions between the vertebrae)
- Disc herniation above or below the original surgical site
- Formation of bursae (fluid-filled sacs) around the implanted instrumentation
- Infection in the bone or around the instrumentation
- Loose or detached instrumentation
- Pseudoarthrosis, the failure of the bone to fuse and heal properly following the procedure
- Radiculopathy, nerve pain that develops due to acute nerve compression
- Scar tissue formation around the incision
- Scoliosis, spinal deformity or flatback syndrome
- Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that results in compression of the spinal cord or associated nerves
WHAT IS INVLOVED WITH REVISION SPINE SURGERY?
Revision spine surgery is a term used to describe a series of minimally invasive surgeries that can be performed based on what needs to be corrected following the initial procedure. Options may include:
- Decompression of the spinal cord or nerves by removing the tissue or bone that is causing the pressure
- Fusing additional vertebrae together to correct degenerative changes above or below the original fusion
- Performing an osteotomy to restore proper alignment of the spine
- Placing additional instrumentation—on the other side of the spine, in some cases—to reinforce the original instrumentation
- Removal of infected tissue and antibiotic therapy in the event of infection
- Removal of—and/or replacing of—instrumentation implanted during the original surgery
COME TO THE REVISION SPECIALISTS
At IGEA Brain & Spine, our surgeons specialize in diagnosing and correcting failed back syndrome. Utilizing the latest techniques in our state-of-the-art facilities, our specialists restore quality of life to patients living with chronic pain and other symptoms.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, contact us today.
