Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

This procedure reaches the cervical spine (neck) through a small incision in the front of the neck. The intervertabral disc is removed and replaced with a small plug of bone or other graft substitute, and in time, that will fuse the vertebrae. A metal plate and screws are used to stabilize the spine.

Cervical Corpectomy

This procedure removes a portion of the vertebra and adjacent intervertebral discs to allow for decompression of the cervical spinal cord and spinal nerves. A bone graft, and in some cases a metal plate and screws, is used to stabilize the spine.

Foraminotomy

This procedure treats pinched or compressed nerves. It removes the foramina (the area where the nerve roots exit the spinal canal) to increase the size of the nerve pathway. This surgery can be done alone or with a laminotomy.

Laminotomy

A procedure that removes only a small portion of the lamina (a part of the vertebra) to relieve pressure on the nerve roots. This procedure is used to treat many spinal disorders such as spondylolisthesis, spinal tumors, and spinal stenosis.

Laminectomy

Removal of the entire lamina. A procedure for treating spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis by relieveing pressure on the spinal cord. The lamina (a part of the vertebra) is removed or trimmed to widen the spinal canal and create more space for the spinal nerves. Like laminotomy, this procedure is used to treat many spinal disorders such as spondylolisthesis , spinal tumors, and spinal stenosis.

Discectomy

Treats herniated discs. This is a minimally invasive procedure during which soft gel-like material (herniated out of the disc and compressing a nerve) is removed while the support structure of the disc remains intact. This returns the disc to a more normal share and relives the pressure on the nearby spinal nerve.

Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion is a process during which a number of vertebrae are made to grow or “fuse” together. This procedure is done to eliminate motion between adjacent vertebrae and stabilize the spine and is necessary in patients who truly have mechanical pain and who have failed to respond to non-surgical treatments. Bone graft and titanium instrumentation such as plates, screws, and rods are usually used in this procedure. There are different types of bone graft materials including the patent’s own bone (autograft), donor bone (allograft), and bone protein. Depending on the specific circumstances, spinal fusions may be performed anteriorly (incision from the front) or posteriorly (incision from the back). A spinal fusion may be included with another surgical procedure such as a discectomy or laminectomy.