Laser spine surgery involves a surgeon using a laser to remove back tissue on or along the spinal cord to alleviate various health problems that the tissue could be causing.
The surgery is often used to assist in decompressing nerves that cause patients to be in a lot of pain.
Compared to traditional surgery, laser surgery is less invasive. It can also be performed on an outpatient basis sometimes.
Traditional spine surgery is the other option available to certain patients. It involves a surgeon making a long incision to access the area of the spine that needs treatment and then removing back muscles and other tissue to enable the surgeon to access the spine.
Is laser spine surgery or traditional spine surgery better?
Both laser spine surgery and traditional spine surgery have pros and cons. When it comes to determining which is better, it ultimately comes down to the reason for the surgery.
Laser surgery can be very effective for helping numerous types of spinal conditions, but for some conditions, patients will need to undergo traditional spine surgery to correct their conditions.
The laser surgery option is typically best for patients who are diagnosed with slipped discs, bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis and sciatica, while traditional spine surgery is usually best for spinal deformation and disorders associated with pelvic organs.
In many situations, patients will have a choice regarding the type of surgery they have to correct their spinal problems. In which case, you need to weigh up the pros and cons.
Get Advice from a Specialist
You should always speak to a medical professional before considering any procedure.
So, whether you’re in London, Paris, or New Jersey, consult with a specialist who can help you to understand the procedure better and give you advice for your specific condition.
A great laser spine surgery in New Jersey is the Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine, and Orthopedics, where you can get help from certified spine surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists and pain management physicians.
The Cons of Laser Spine Surgery
It’s best to start with the cons and end with the pros, right?
Firstly, as briefly mentioned earlier, some spinal conditions cannot be helped or cured with laser spine surgery. That’s why you should get advice from a specialist who can tell you which procedure is best for your specific condition.
Other cons of laser spine surgery include the following:
- Because heat comes from a laser, any nearby nerves could potentially become damaged and cause pain.
- Because bone needs to be removed in order for the laser to get into the spinal canal, it could potentially lead to spinal instability and cause back pain.
- Usually, laser spine surgery involves making only a small incision, and indeed, that’s one reason why many people choose laser surgery over traditional spine surgery. However, in some cases, surgeons may have to make larger incisions during procedures.
The Pros of Laser Spine Surgery
For most people, the pros of laser spine surgery outweigh the cons.
In addition to laser surgery enabling people to have small surgical incisions in the vast majority of procedures, in which the incision is less than one inch long, the pros of laser spine surgery include the following:
- Many spinal conditions can be successfully addressed.
- Unlike traditional spine surgery, patients are less likely to experience tissue damage.
- Also unlike traditional spine surgery, patients who have laser spine surgery often experience quick recoveries and most patients go home on the same day as the procedure.