Spine Surgery
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Persistent back or neck pain? You’re not alone: experts estimate that nearly 80 percent of U.S. men and women will be affected by spine-related pain at some point in their lives.
It can happen at home, at work and to just about anyone who sits too long or moves without proper body mechanics. Whether you’ve suffered a recent injury or have been living in chronic pain, AtlantiCare has your back. Our board-certified surgeons specialize in treating everything from congenital and degenerative conditions, compressed or herniated discs, spinal stenosis to other problems that are interfering with your life.
Whenever possible, we use some of the most minimally invasive techniques available to minimize pain and length of hospital stay, while maximizing your outcome. Our goal is to get you back to an active, pain-free life as soon as possible.
Call 1-888-569-1000 to schedule your consultation and start putting back pain behind you.
Full Range of Spine Procedures
Anterior Cervical Neck Surgery
During surgery, most of a problem disk is removed (diskectomy). To reach the disk, an incision is made in the front (anterior) of the neck. After the disk is removed, two or more vertebrae may be fused together or the problem disk may be replaced with an artificial one.
Cervical Fusion Surgery
Fusing neck vertebrae limits their movement. This can help reduce pressure on the nerves and spinal cord to relieve pain. First, most of the disk is removed. Then the space between the vertebrae is enlarged and filled with bone graft. Often, the bone graft is put inside a device called a cage, which is then placed between the vertebrae. A metal plate may be added over the front of the vertebrae and secured with screws. If used, the cage or plate remains in the body and is not removed.
Posterior Cervical (Neck) Disk Surgery
In some cases, the disk is reached through the back (posterior) of the neck. With this approach,
Lumbar Surgery
Decompression surgeries are used to relieve pressure on a nerve in the lower back. This may be done by removing bone from a part of the vertebrae. It may also be done by removing some or all of the disk. A combination of procedures is often used.
Lumbar Fusion Surgery
Lumbar spinal fusion surgery makes the spine more stable. This can help ease lower back and leg pain. During the surgery, a bone graft is put between two or more vertebrae. Over time, the bone graft and nearby bone grow into a solid unit. The surgery can be done in several ways. Your surgeon can describe how your procedure will be done.
Disk Replacement (Cervical and Lumbar)
Instead of fusion, this procedure replaces a damaged disk with a new disk of state-of-the-art manmade materials. First, the problem disk is removed and the vertebrae are gently moved apart. Then the replacement disk is put between the vertebrae. The new disk is anchored into the bone. In time,
Surgery FAQs
Find answers to common questions below.
The goal of spinal surgery is to relieve your pain and allow you to return to the activities you enjoy. Living well means different things to different people. Whether you love walking, cycling or playing with your grandchild, it’s important to move without pain. Aging or injury often gets in the way of comfortable movement. But no matter your age or condition, there are ways we can help. Our spinal surgeons are committed to helping people like you improve your quality of life.
Rehabilitation is one of the most important parts of your recovery. You will be encouraged to move within hours of your surgery unless your doctor has ordered differently.
Your care team will create a home therapy plan for you before you leave the hospital. We will review it with you and make sure you understand what you need to do. Depending on the surgery, you may continue with physical therapy for several weeks after surgery.
Your surgeon will discuss this with you before you leave. Most patients who have spinal surgery find they have less pain and more freedom of movement after surgery. Many feel they are now able to return to the things they enjoy most in life.
In general, the length of recovery depends on the type of surgery and on the condition of your back before surgery. For example, with a diskectomy, the pain, numbness or weakness associated with the affected nerve should improve in about one to two weeks. For a laminectomy, it may take from one to several months before you notice a decrease in leg pain. With spinal fusion, the pain should be much better in one to three months.
This depends on the type of surgery. Ask your doctor at your follow-up appointment.
Avoid long car trips for at least six weeks following surgery. If you need to make a long trip, make sure you make frequent stops (every 30 to 45 minutes) to get out and stretch. Avoid flying for several weeks after surgery. Make sure to discuss any travel with your doctor.
It is okay to drive a car when you are off all narcotic medications and you can safely control the vehicle. This may be several days or weeks after your surgery.
Some people use a walker after back surgery to provide the extra support and reduce back pressure. If necessary, a physical therapist will guide you when to stop using it.