Spinal Surgery

Spinal surgery includes all procedures to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the spinal cord and spinal nerves, as well as the surrounding structures.

The human spine is an amazing structure, supporting us throughout our lives with strength and flexibility. Unfortunately, it also is one of most common areas in the body to wear out as we age and cause pain and dysfunction.

  • Conditions treated: Spinal surgery can be used to treat abnormalities of the spinal discs, bones, spinal cord or nerves. Surgery is most commonly needed when there is pressure on the spinal cord or nerves causing pain, weakness, numbness, tingling or other symptoms.
  • Types of surgery: There most common surgeries are discectomy, laminectomy, and spinal fusion. The type of surgery will depend on the specific condition being treated.
  • Preparation: Patients will usually need medical tests and scans and may need to stop taking some of their medications and fast from food or fluids for a specified period of time before the surgery. They may need to make changes to their diet or lifestyle, including to stop smoking.
  • Procedure: Spinal surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia and can take several hours, depending on the type of surgery.
  • Recovery: Recovery after spinal surgery may take days or months but depends on the type of surgery and individual patient factors. Physiotherapy, exercises and rehabilitation may be needed to improve strength and mobility. 
  • Risks and complications: As with any surgery, there are risks and potential complications associated with spinal surgery, infection, bleeding, blood clots, nerve injury, spinal fluid leakage, non-union (failure of fusion), adjacent segment degeneration or complications related to anaesthesia. 

It is important to work closely with your healthcare team to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs and goals. The team will be able to provide you with more detailed information about your specific situation and help you understand what to expect.