Our Spine Specialists:
– Ramil S. Bhatnagar, MD
– Tyler Kreitz, MD
– Michael F. Lospinuso, MD
– Joseph G. Marsicano, MD
Spine Treatments
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
The cervical spine connects the skull to upper back and protects the spinal cord. Intervertebral discs lie between cervical vertebrae C1-C7 and help facilitate movement and reduce the load placed directly on the bone. Damaged discs that cause neck and/or upper extremity pain sometimes require surgery.
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Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
Cervical artificial disc replacement (ADR) removes and replaces a damaged cervical intervertebral disc that causes neck and/or upper extremity pain. Following a quick recovery, the new disc functions just like a healthy one—motion is not limited, nerve roots are not compressed.
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Degenerative Disc Disease
Age, injury, and disease can cause the discs between the vertebrae to become weak and damaged. When this happens, there’s a risk of herniation, which can cause pain, numbness, and disability. The latest treatments can help patients with degenerative disc disease address this concern and restore function and comfort.
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Epidural Steroid Injection
An epidural steroid injection is a minimally invasive procedure that treats nerve inflammation and pain. The outpatient procedure is performed using a mild sedative and local anesthesia.
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Facet Joint Injections
The facet joints are very important because they move the spine. Like all joints, facet joints are covered in smooth cartilage that allows adjacent bones to move smoothly and easily. Osteoarthritis damages facet joint cartilage and causes inflammation and pain. Severe facet joint osteoarthritis can cause nerve compression and bone-on-bone rubbing. The key to effective facet joint osteoarthritis treatment is an early diagnosis. Nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatment options quickly decrease symptoms.
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Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is minimally invasive spine surgery to treat symptomatic compression fractures that do not respond to nonsurgical treatments options. Kyphoplasty is performed using a small incision—less surgical trauma occurs and recovery time is shortened. Click To Learn More
Minimally Invasive Discectomy
A minimally invasive discectomy (microdiscectomy) removes portions of nerve compressing lumbar intervertebral disc that causes lower back and/or lower extremity pain. A microdiscectomy is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia.
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Minimally Invasive Laminectomy
Laminectomy is one of the most common spine surgeries. Although laminectomies have been performed as open incision procedures for a very long time, most laminectomies are now performed minimally invasively. A much smaller incision is used, less surgical trauma occurs, and recovery time is shortened. The purpose of the procedure is to remove the back part of a vertebra or lamina and decompress a pinched nerve or nerves.
Minimally Invasive Spinal Fusion
Open incision spinal fusion procedures have been performed for many years. Recent advancements in spine surgery have allowed spine specialists to perform fusion procedures in a minimally invasive manner. A smaller incision is used, less surgical trauma is caused, and recovery is much quicker
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Myelopathy Treatments
Typically a result of the natural aging process, myelopathy is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows, causing compression of the spinal cord. Discomfort, reduced mobility, and other effects associated with this disorder can make work and recreational activity difficult.
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Revision Spine Surgery
Spine surgery is more advanced and effective than ever. The overwhelming majority of patients’ results are significant and sustained. In rare instances not caused by the surgeon or patient, spine surgery may not relieve symptoms and a revision spine surgery may need to be performed. The goal of revision spine surgery is to decrease symptoms and treat the condition causing them.
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Sacroiliac Joint Fusion
The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum to the hips and evenly distributes shock between the upper and lower body. Sacroiliac joint fusion is a surgical procedure to fuse the sacroiliac joint. The procedure is performed when moving the sacroiliac joint causes pain and possibly other symptoms.
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Scoliosis Correction
Scoliosis correction is a surgical procedure to straighten the spine. Adolescents and adults may undergo a scoliosis correction when nonsurgical treatment options do not improve scoliosis symptoms. A posterior approach (from the back) is usually used on adolescents and a posterior, anterior (from the front), or lateral (from the side) approach is used on adults, depending on their condition.
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Spinal Nerve Root Block
A spinal nerve root block is a commonly performed—and perhaps the oldest—minimally invasive spine procedure. A spinal nerve root block stops a nerve from sending pain signals to the brain. First, a mild sedative is given to help the patient relax. Next, the patient is carefully positioned face down on a comfortable table with a special resting place for the head and neck.
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Spinal Cord Stimulator
A spinal cord stimulator is a spine pain relief device. The stimulator is implanted into the patient’s back and sends electrical impulses that block nerve pain signals to the brain.
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Spine Conditions
Back Pain
Low back pain can often be attributed to complex origins and symptoms, and it does not discriminate. It can originate from identified muscle trauma, or an unknown non-traumatic event. Low back pain can also begin in other regions of the body and eventually attack the muscles or other structures in the lower back. Sometimes low back pain can even begin in the nerves or nervous system. Other origins for low back pain are postneural difficulties, congenital disorders, trauma, infections, degenerative disorders, inflammatory diseases, circulatory disorders or any of other 30 additional causes.
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Degenerative Disc Disease
Age, injury, and disease can cause the discs between the vertebrae to become weak and damaged. When this happens, there’s a risk of herniation, which can cause pain, numbness, and disability. The latest treatments can help patients with degenerative disc disease address this concern and restore function and comfort.
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Herniated Disc
Herniated discs are usually diagnosed via a qualified physical examination. However, often times, additional testing such as an MRI or a CT scan will help confirm the herniated disc or rule out other health issues that may be causing these symptoms.
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Myelopathy
Myelopathy is a condition in which the spinal cord becomes compressed, often as a result of the spinal canal becoming narrower. Click To Learn More
Neck Pain
The neck is an extremely flexible part of the body. The bones in the neck (called the cervical spine) allow more motion than other parts of the spine. However, because it is less protected than the rest of the spine, the neck can be vulnerable to injury and to disorders that produce pain and restrict motion. For many people, neck pain is a temporary condition that disappears with time. Others need medical diagnosis and treatment to relieve their symptoms.
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Radiculopathy
More a symptom than a condition, radiculopathy is a “pinched” nerve, which can occur from a wide range of spinal conditions, including herniated disc, myelopathy, bone spurs, and other issues. The treatment will depend on the cause, and our experienced team can identify the originating issue and help patients restore function and reduce pain.
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Sciatica
Sciatica is one of the most common causes of lower back and lower extremity pain. Sciatica is caused by the compression of the sciatic nerve—the largest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve innervates lower back, buttock, thigh, and leg muscles. The most common symptom of sciatica is a sharp, radiating pain that travels from the lower back to the thigh and down the lower leg. Other symptoms include burning, weakness, numbness, and tingling. Symptoms usually only present on one side of the body. Symptoms may be worse when sitting or standing, depending on where the nerve is pinched. Common causes of sciatica include:
- Lumbar spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spondylolisthesis
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. Scoliosis typically diagnosed in adolescents. If untreated, some deformatities can become more severe.
Spinal Stenosis
Like myelopathy, spinal stenosis is a type of spinal canal narrowing, one that is often caused by injury or trauma but may also come from degeneration of any part of the spine. Symptoms will vary depending on which area of the spine is affected, but stability issues, numbness, and other forms of disability are not uncommon. Non-surgical methods are often very helpful for patients with spinal stenosis.
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Spondylosis
Spondylosis is a descriptive term for spine pain and spine degeneration. Spondylosis is not a formal medical diagnosis. If a patient experiences spondylosis, an Orthopaedic Institute Brielle Orthopaedics Orthopaedic Institute Brielle Orthopaedics specialist finds out exactly what is causing it. The three main causes are:
- Osteoarthritis. The vertebral bones and soft tissues wear and tear because of overuse and age.
- Spinal stenosis. The spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal nerve roots.
- Degenerative disc disease. The intervertebral discs between adjacent vertebrae degenerate.
Spondylolisthesis
A condition where a vertebra “slips” or becomes displaced with varying degrees of severity. This causes the spine to become misaligned and can lead to serious concerns, including lower back pain, upper leg pain, hypersensitive nerves near the affected area, and muscle stiffness and tightness. If left untreated, neurological impairment and reduced lung capacity may result. Several types of spondylolisthesis can occur, each with different causes.
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