Spine Surgery to Relieve Pressure Off Nerves

Impinged nerves along the spine can cause extreme pain and discomfort in the long run. Decompression Surgery in Hyderabad can help relieve the pressure on spinal nerves and its resulting pain. Arete Hospitals Spine Surgery Department staffs the top-rated spine surgeons of Hyderabad who hold specialised training and decades of experience in performing simple to complex spine surgeries like spine decompression surgery.

What is Spinal Nerve Decompression Surgery?

Spinal Surgery to relieve pressure off nerves is often referred to as spinal nerve decompression surgery in Hyderabad. It is performed anywhere along the spine from the cervical area (neck) to the lumbar region (lower back), wherever there are pinched nerves present. It can help treat spinal stenosis. Depending upon the severity of the stenosis, single or multi-level operation is performed. Different types of decompression could be performed to relieve pinched nerves. These include laminotomy, laminectomy, laminaplasty, foraminotomy, and discectomy.

What does Spinal Nerve Decompression Surgery Involve?

The spine surgery to relieve pressure off nerves in Hyderabad lasts for about 1-3 hours, depending upon the site and severity of nerve compression and the procedure involved. The step-wise procedure of such an operation is as follows:

Preparation of the patient- The patient is asked to lie down in a prone position on the operating table/bed and given general anaesthesia. Next, the surgeon cleans and preps the site of the incision. If the patient needs spinal fusion and has decided to own bone as a graft, the hip area is then prepped to obtain a bone graft.

Making of incision- The surgeon cuts the skin of the middle back over the appropriate vertebrae. The length of skin incision varies for patients depending on how many laminectomies are to be carried out. Through the incision, the surgeon splits the muscles of the back and shifts them on either side to get access to the lamina of each vertebra.

• Laminectomy or Laminotomy- An X-ray is taken of the exposed lamina to verify that the right vertebra is being operated on. In laminectomy, the surgeon gets rid of the bony spinous process followed by the bony lamina with the help of drill or bone-biting tools. Further, the surgeon even removes the thickened ligamentum flavum which links the laminae of two adjacent vertebrae. This procedure is repeated for all affected vertebrae. In cases, wherein the surgeon is not in favour of removing the entire protective bony lamina, laminotomy is performed. For laminotomy, the surgeon makes a small opening of the lamina both above and below the compressed spinal nerve to relieve pressure. This can be performed unilaterally or bilaterally and on multiple levels of vertebrae.
• Decompression of the spinal cord- Once the bony lamina and ligamentum flavum are eliminated, the surgeon can visualise the dura mater- the protective covering of the spinal cord. This may be gently retracted by the surgeon along with nerve root to remove thickened ligament and bone spurs in the spine.
• Laminoplasty in Hyderabad- For expansion of the spinal canal in the neck (cervical) area, the surgeon cuts the laminae on one side and swings them open, just like a door.  
• Decompression of the spinal nerve (Foraminotomy in Hyderabad)- The surgeon may trim the facet joints that lie directly over the nerve roots to create more space for them. This results in enlarged neural foramen- the site where spinal nerves exit the spinal canal. It is performed when the foramen height collapses and causes a pinched nerve because of disc degeneration.
• Discectomy in Hyderabad - In case, the spinal nerve decompression is because of a herniated or degenerative disc, then the surgeon removes a portion of the bulged or degenerative disc to relieve pressure off the spinal nerves.
• Spinal fusion (if necessary)- In case the patient has undergone multiple laminectomies or has spinal instability, the surgeon performs spinal fusion. In this procedure, the surgeon joins together two vertebrae with a bone graft or synthetic bone-like material. The two vertebrae are held with hardware like hooks, plates, rods, cages, or pedicle screws. There are different approaches to performing spinal fusion and the patient can make a choice for the right one and even go with the surgeon’s recommendation.
• Closure- Once all is over, the surgeon sews with sutures the muscles and even skin incisions. Surgical staples or glue may be used to close skin incisions.

For more information on Spinal Nerve Decompression Surgery Cost in Hyderabad, one can contact the expert surgeons at Arete Hospitals. As the cost is based on several factors, talking to an expert is essential. 

After Discharge Instructions

• Avoid lifting anything that weighs above 5 pounds until your back is restored to normal.
• Do not bend or twist your backside until your surgeon allows it.
• Do not indulge in strenuous activities including any laborious work and having sex at least for 2 weeks.  
• Avoid driving for an initial 1-2 days after surgery or while taking any pain-relieving medications or muscle relaxers. Driving is allowed if your pain is in control.
• Refrain from alcohol consumption and smoking as such habits can delay recovery.
• Apply ice packs on incision sites for 15 minutes 3-4 times a day for the first few days to reduce swelling and pain.
• Keep your body in the correct postures and walk as per your ability.
• Take proper care of the incision site as directed by your surgeon.  
• Do not miss taking prescribed painkillers and antibiotic courses.
• Drink plenty of water and have fibre-rich food.

Risks Associated with Spinal Nerve Decompression Surgery

No surgery comes without risks. Generally, every surgical procedure is associated with complications including infection, bleeding, blood clots, and anaesthesia reaction. If laminectomy and spinal fusion are performed at the same time, the risk of complications is higher. Here are the risks that should be considered:

• Failure of fusion of vertebrae (usually if the patient is a smoker, malnourished, obese, or has osteoporosis)
• Spinal nerve or cord damage and persistent back pain
• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots formation inside legs veins)
• Fracturing of spine stabilising hardware such as metal screws, plates, and rods
• Adjacent Segment Disease (extra load of spinal fusion is transferred to bones and discs in segments adjacent to that of fusion)
• Bone graft migration (rare).