Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) The lumbar spine contains the largest vertebrae in our spine. It functions as a bearer of most of the upper body’s weight and a shock absorber for our movements. However, this important job can lead to spinal damage or deterioration over time. A Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) aims…

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty In the posterior spine, there exists a structure known as the vertebral arch. Eleven parts make up this structure—seven processes, two pedicles, and two laminae. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, this area of the spine becomes compressed (a condition known as cervical stenosis). This may occur…

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) Osteotomy: Overview, Advantages, & Eligibility Criteria Spinal deformities can develop for various reasons, and their symptoms can be painful, embarrassing, or debilitating. Spinal osteotomies are surgical procedures that doctors use to treat a wide variety of spinal deformities. More specifically, an osteotomy is a…

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) Microdiscectomy: Overview, Advantages, & Eligibility Criteria The experience of suffering a bulging or herniated disc is a common one, especially among older adults. These damaged discs can press on adjacent nerves, causing debilitating pain or other distressing symptoms. A minimally invasive microdiscectomy is a…

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) Laser Spine Surgery If you’ve been searching for surgical interventions to manage back pain, then you’ve probably stumbled across laser spine surgery. The name conjures up images of futuristic beams of light with the high precision and scientific accuracy to repair whatever ails your spine. As we will see—when it comes to the…

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) Kyphoplasty: Overview, Advantages, & Eligibility Criteria When the bones in our spine fracture or break, the resulting pain and troubling symptoms can become incapacitating. A minimally invasive kyphoplasty is a state-of-the-art procedure that can resolve these painful breaks. A brief procedure that involves no incisions and…

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) Foraminotomy: Overview, Advantages, & Eligibility Criteria Your foramina are passageways, or canals, that reside in-between each vertebra of your spine. These hollow openings allow the spinal nerve roots to exit from the spinal cord and extend outward to the body. Despite their small size, however, these doorways facilitate…

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) What is a Facetectomy? A facetectomy is a surgical procedure that allows your doctor to remove bone spurs that have grown into the facet joints. In many cases, these growths, known as osteophytes, impact nerves in the spinal column, causing pain and a decreased range of motion. Sometimes, surgeons also perform a facetectomy to…

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF) What is an Endoscopic Discectomy (ED)? An Endoscopic Discectomy (ED) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is used to remove herniated disc material. These discs may cause pain in the mid-back (thoracic spine), neck (cervical spine), or lower back (lumbar spine) regions. EDs are one of the most common and least invasive…