Spine care

Treatment options for back and neck pain can vary. Some conditions are more serious, requiring surgical intervention. We offer the following treatments to help relieve back and neck pain:

• Anterior cervical discectomy — The surgeon removes a piece of damaged disc tissue in the neck area to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
• Anterior cervical fusion — During this surgery, a disc is removed. The surgeon inserts a small wedge of bone between two vertebrae to restore disc space. Over time, the two vertebrae fuse together into a single solid structure.
• Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) — Back muscles and nerves remain undisturbed. The space between discs is fused by approaching the spine through the abdomen. The surgeon will approach the abdomen through an incision or by using an endoscope.
• Bone grafting — Small pieces of bone are placed into the space between the vertebrae to be fused. The bone is either supplied by the patient or harvested from other individuals.
• Corpectomy — Complete decompression of the spinal canal. The middle portion of the vertebra and its adjacent discs are removed to decompress the cervical spinal cord and nerve roots.
• Discectomy—The removal of the herniated portion of a disc. This procedure relieves the pressure on nearby nerves as they exit the spinal canal.
• Disc replacement — Artificial disc replacement has emerged as an effective treatment option for low back pain. Disc replacement substitutes a mechanical device for an intervertebral disc in the spine.
• Kyphoplasty — A minimally invasive spinal surgery procedure used to treat painful, progressive vertebral compression fractures.
• Laminoplasty — Often performed on patients suffering from spinal stenosis in the neck. This procedure creates more space for the spinal cord and roots. It relieves pressure on the spinal canal's diameter and makes room for the spinal cord.
• Lumbar discectomy — The surgeon typically only removes the portion of the disc that is causing a problem, not the entire disc.
• Lumbar laminectomy — Involves the removal of part or all of the bone covering the spinal canal. This procedure can free nerve roots, remove a tumor, remove a bone spur or perform certain types of fusion procedures.
• Posterior cervical foraminotomy/discectomy—Some cases of herniated discs or bone spurs that occur in the neck only affect the nerve roots. This procedure avoids spinal fusion and can minimize recovery time.
• Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) — Very similar to the anterior lumbar interbody fusion except the surgeon approaches the spine through the low back. It can also provide an anterior fusion of the disc space without having a second incision.
• Spinal fusion — A surgical procedure used to correct problems with the vertebrae of the spine. The spine is stabilized by fusing two or more vertebrae using bone grafts, metal rods and metal screws.

Other possible treatment options include:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic care
• Medication, including pain relievers, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and cortisone shots
• Physical therapy
• Short-term bed rest for those with debilitating back pain

Our spine surgeons at Trident Medical Center perform advanced spine surgery using the smallest incisions possible with a minimally invasive spine robotic surgery system. Spine surgical procedures include:

• Laminectomy (removal of the bone covering the roof of the spinal canal)
• Discectomy (removal of the portion of a herniated disc in the spine which is bulging and pushing on the nerve)

Trident Medical Center was the first hospital in the country to perform a spinal cord stimulator implant. The device relieves pain by delivering electrical pulses to the spinal cord. Instead of feeling pain, patients experience a tingling sensation. They can control the level of pulses sent by a handheld remote control, giving them the ability to change the number of pulses depending on the level of discomfort.

This device is the most technologically advanced implant available today for the control of chronic pain.

We offer inpatient physical therapy and outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation with certified physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists who help patients recover from spine conditions and regain movement and mobility. Additionally, our occupational therapists help patients regain the skills needed to complete daily activities.