Almost 65 million Americans report that they’ve had a recent episode of back pain. While in most cases, this pain clears on its own, with treatment or without, 8% of adults have chronic back pain that’s severe enough to interfere with everyday living.
When conservative and intermediate treatments fail to relieve pain that lasts for six months or longer, surgical intervention may become necessary. The same holds true for neck pain originating in the spine. When pain results from the deterioration of spinal discs, you have a choice of two surgeries, spinal fusion or artificial disc replacement (ADR).
Sanjay Khurana, MD often recommends ADR to his patients who can benefit from the procedure. Not all patients are candidates for ADR though, and for them, Dr. Khurana may recommend minimally invasive spinal fusion. Here’s how the two approaches compare.
The primary components of your spine are the bones, called vertebrae, and the cushioning discs between them. These discs are frequently described as “jelly donuts.” There’s a softer viscous filling surrounded by a tough outer shell. Both of these disc tissues can dry out as you get older, and the outer shell can crack and leak, creating a disc herniation.
These ruptures often heal spontaneously, and it’s possible to have one without being aware of it. Herniated discs become a problem when they irritate root nerves. However, discs may continue to deteriorate, causing more frequent back and neck pain. Eventually, a surgical solution becomes necessary for some patients.
When a natural disc fails, a logical solution might seem to be a disc replacement. After all, hip and knee replacements are now quite common. Your spine; however, is a complex collection of joints with little room to maneuver and plenty of delicate nerve tissue.
ADR is more complex than spinal fusion, since the natural disc must be completely removed and an artificial disc made of plastic and/or metal is fitted into the intervertebral space.
Not everyone is a candidate for ADR though. You may be restricted to spinal fusion if you’ve had back surgery before or if you have certain spinal conditions.
This approach also removes the intervertebral disc but instead of an artificial disc, it’s replaced with a bone graft and the vertebrae on each side are connected — fused — together. This prevents the movement of that spinal joint, which usually solves the pain issues, though it comes at the cost of less spine mobility since those two vertebrae become essentially one.
ADR preserves the motion capabilities of the vertebrae on each side of the replacement disc. This means the natural distribution of force on the spine remains the same. ADR is long-lasting and often the surgery of choice when a patient is younger and has no history of joint disease or nerve compression. Curvature of the spine, fractures, and osteoporosis are some of the conditions that might rule out ADR as a solution.
Though spinal fusion reduces the range of motion of the back, this might be the solution to a pain issue, one that would continue after ADR. If you’ve had previous back surgery, or if you have a condition that rules out ADR, spinal fusion may be the answer. Dr. Khurana specializes in minimally invasive procedures for spinal fusion, meaning your recovery will be shorter and with fewer complications than conventional open surgery.
The right answer for you depends on your condition and existing health. Find out more by booking a consultation online or calling one of our offices in Marina Del Ray or Manhattan Beach, California to schedule your appointment today with Dr. Khurana and his team.
