Spine Surgery in New Jersey

A s per the North American Spine Society (NASS) medical guidelines, patients diagnosed with a spine condition, should attempt physical therapy supplemented with medications as a first line of treatment.   If during physical therapy symptoms persist or worsen, an MRI will be ordered to confirmed if there is an anatomic structural pathology that is the source of the discomfort. The results of the MRI will further direct whether the patient would benefit from steroid injections to reduce inflammation or whether spine surgery would resolve the symptoms. Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics (CNSO) neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons, located in New Jersey, are award-winning spine surgeons who provide the latest treatment options using their exceptional diagnostic skills and experience with state-of-the-art technology. Learn more about any spine condition or type of spine surgery available through CNSO.

Conditions Which May Require Spine Surgery

Spine surgery can eliminate painful symptoms, weakness, and dysfunction caused by tumors, injuries, or deformities in the spine. If diagnosed with a tumor of the spine or already exhibiting muscle weakness in the extremities, surgery may be more eminent. Most back pain is caused by muscle aches and spasms which can be resolved by the doctors at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics conservatively through medication, physical therapy, and pain management techniques. Other spine conditions may or may not benefit from conservative care and thus is dependent on each individual’s condition and degree of severity. Some of the spine conditions that may require spine surgery are:

• Spinal cord injury and fracture: This injury can occur secondary to any medical condition, injury, or accident that leads to the spinal cord being compressed or the vertebral bones being fractured.
• Failed or revision back surgery: When prior back surgery has failed to resolve the patient’s symptoms or when a new injury has occurred causing the prior surgical construct to fail.
• Motor vehicle or work-related accidents: Back injuries can arise after such incidents due to sudden impact or blunt trauma to the back or neck.
• Degenerative disorders: Age and lifestyle can cause arthritis to form within the spinal bones and joints. These include conditions like bone spurs, sciatica, foraminal stenosis, spondylosis, or spinal stenosis.
• Disc disorders: Cartilaginous discs located between the vertebrae of the spine can misalign, herniate, bulge, tear, or wear out.
• Spine deformities: This is when the spine becomes or congenitally develops a misshapen structure, causing pain and discomfort. This condition can be quite debilitating or problematic while exercising or sitting.
• Spine tumors: These growths found along the spine are caused by the overproduction of either non-cancerous or cancerous cells.
• Scoliosis: This occurs when the spine becomes deformed into an S-shape, affecting an individual’s posture and creating uncomfortable symptoms.

The value of spine surgery done correctly and early is to prevent the worsening of symptoms and to prevent irreversible damage to the surrounding spinal cord and nerves. Spine surgery should improve the overall quality of life and life expectancy. The experienced CNSO team aims to provide patients with easy and accessible treatment so patients recovery rapidly.

Spine Procedures Offered by the CNSO Team

With a team of award-winning neurosurgeons and spine surgeons using the latest advanced medical technology, CNSO provides high-quality spine surgery only to patients who have met the evidence-based indications. Examples of some of the spine surgeries routinely performed are:

• Minimally invasive spine surgery: This technique of spine surgery can be used to access and treat many spine conditions, including persistent sciatica, herniated discs, and degenerative disc disorder. Because the technique allows for a minimally invasive approach to the spine pathology, there is less retraction on the surrounding muscles near the surgical incision site and there is less blood loss. This reduces both muscle strain and tissue trauma. Other benefits include minimal scarring and significantly less post-operative pain, both of which allow for a quicker recovery time. This technique is utilized with the below procedures.
• Discectomy: This type of spine surgery eliminates the pressure off nerve or spinal cord caused by a herniated or slipped disc. For a simple discectomy, patients will go home the same day within a few hours of the surgery with minimal to no discomfort.
• Laminectomy: This procedure relieves pressure off a nerve or spinal cord from a misshapen lamina of the vertebral bone. This lamina can compress nerves and the spinal cord because of a deformity, arthritis, bone spurs, degenerative diseases, and spinal infections.
• Fusion surgery: This restores the spine back to a normal functional alignment after resolving any pinched nerves or pressure on the spinal cord and adjacent vertebral bones. Depending on the condition and its severity, there are unique spinal fusion surgery options for patients. Post-operation, patients will appreciate the relief from their symptoms within less than one month.
• Decompression surgery: This is the term used when the surgery must relieve pressure off of a nerve or the spinal cord.
• Cervical disk replacement: A cervical disk replacement can treat several types of cervical degenerative diseases. This procedure works to preserve mobility in the affected area. This is performed by extensively trained CNSO neurosurgeons and spine surgeons. They complete the surgery within two hours. Patients can go home the same day as the surgery.
• Laser spine surgery: In conjunction with minimally invasive spine surgery, laser spine surgery removes tumors and reduces pain associated with compressed nerves and herniated discs. A state-of-the-art laser is then used to remove tumors.
• Robotic spine surgery: This is the latest advanced surgical technique that uses a robotic arm and intraoperative image guidance for minimally invasive procedures. Performed using a surgeon’s guidance, this type of surgery provides accuracy via radiographic imaging and is helpful for patients with severe scoliosis, spinal deformities, and complex revision surgery.

The selected procedure depends on the severity and location of the affected area. The doctors and surgeons at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics will closely evaluate symptoms and diagnostic testing, and then provide the best method of treatment, regardless of whether or not surgery is necessary.

Why Choose Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics?

The dedicated team at Centers for Neurosurgery, Spine & Orthopedics has a detailed understanding of a broad array of spinal conditions and the most effective treatments available. Through collaboration, board-certified neurosurgeons, spine surgeons, pain management physicians, rehabilitation specialists, and certified physical therapists, benefit patients by their well-coordinated approach to care. CNSO offers multiple convenient locations across northern New Jersey, including Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, and Hudson Counties. Contact CNSO today to learn more about spine surgery and other treatments.