What Are the Different Types of Spinal Stenosis Surgery?

When spinal stenosis affects your daily life, surgery can seem like the best solution. While there are many forms of nonsurgical treatment for spinal stenosis, surgery can go a step further and provide lasting relief where other solutions fail. Medical advancements have given patients many options for spinal care, and the first step to healing is understanding them. We understand that considering surgery can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Understanding Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis can occur in the upper or lower spine. This condition is characterized by compression of the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the nerves inside. It usually develops as a result of aging, bone spurs, osteoarthritis or related conditions, and can cause symptoms such as:

• Pain: Depending on the location of the stenosis, you may have regular pain in your upper back, lower back or in your legs, especially when you are standing or moving.
• Numbness or weakness: Nerve compression can also present as numbness, tingling or weakness in the same areas.
• Mobility challenges: All of the above symptoms can make moving the way you want more difficult, greatly impacting your quality of life and keeping you from daily activities like walking and doing housework.

The Most Common Types of Spinal Stenosis Surgery

Thankfully, there are many options available to address the pain and symptoms caused by spinal stenosis, and many of them are minimally invasive. The most common surgical options include:

• Cervical laminoplasty: For spinal stenosis that impacts the neck, a cervical laminoplasty decompresses the nerves around the lamina bone. The surgeon places a small plate or spacer in the spine to stabilize the area and prevent future compression of the nerves.
• Lumbar microdecompression: If your spinal stenosis is in your lower back and affects your legs, this procedure may be more useful. During a lumbar microdecompression, a surgeon carefully removes excess bone material or ligament tissue that is compressing the spinal canal, creating more space.
• Artificial disc replacement (ADR): ADR allows a surgeon to remove the affected disc entirely and replace it with a prosthetic, helping you retain mobility while relieving pain.
• Spinal fusion: In more advanced cases of spinal stenosis, the condition may affect multiple discs or a larger portion of the spine. In this case, your surgeon may recommend anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) or extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) to restore spinal stability.

Choosing the Right Surgeon

Choosing surgery is an important decision that should be made with your doctor. It should consider your current health, medical history and goals for treatment. Because each case is unique, it requires an individualized approach. We recommend visiting Dr. Rojeh Melikian, a Harvard and Emory-trained, board-certified surgeon, who will take your personal needs into consideration.

Schedule a Consultation Today

At Rojeh Melikian, M.D., we are committed to helping our patients regain control of their lives through personalized, award-winning care. Call us at 949-269-6879 or schedule a consultation to learn more about your treatment options.