Spine Surgery in Arlington, TX

What is Spine Surgery?

Spine surgery encompasses a range of surgical procedures performed on the spine or vertebrae to treat a variety of conditions affecting the bones, nerves and surrounding tissues of the back and neck.

The spine surgeons on the medical staff at USMD Hospital at Arlington perform a variety of spine surgery procedures to treat conditions such as degenerative disc disease, herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. These procedures can relieve pain, stabilize the spine and improve quality of life.

At USMD Hospital at Arlington the spine surgeons on the medical staff are either neurosurgeons or orthopedic spine surgeons. Both perform a range of minimally invasive procedures, including spinal fusion, discectomy or microdiscectomy, artificial disc replacement and decompression surgery (laminectomy). While their training varies slightly, both orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons specialize in surgeries related to neck and back conditions.

Whatever spine surgery procedure you may be considering, know that at USMD Hospital at Arlington, you’ll be treated by a physician-led expert team that puts patients first.

Who is a Candidate for Spine Surgery?

Factors that might make someone a candidate for spine surgery:

Chronic and persistent pain: Back or neck pain that doesn't respond to conservative treatments like medication, physical therapy, or injections.
Limited mobility or function: Spinal conditions that interfere with activities of daily living, such as walking, standing or bending.
Nerve compression: Symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs or arms caused by pressure on spinal nerves.
Neurological impairment: Progressive neurological deficits, such as loss of bowel or bladder control, may warrant immediate surgical intervention.

Anyone with back or neck pain may be a candidate for spine surgery. However, spine surgery is almost never the first line of defense for patients experiencing back pain.

Spine surgery treats conditions like degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, scoliosis or spondylolisthesis. Typically, physicians recommend surgery for patients who are experiencing debilitating pain and functional limitations, and only after other, more conservative treatments have failed. These nonsurgical options -- including pain medication, physical therapy or steroid injections – are often effective in managing back or neck pain. However, if the pain does not improve with treatment, it may be time to consult a surgeon.

Spine surgery may also be recommended for patients with spinal fractures, spinal tumors or infections affecting the spine or spinal cord, especially if they cause significant instability or neurological impairment.

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What are the Benefits of Spine Surgery?

For those living with back pain or other conditions affecting the spine or spinal column, surgery can be lifechanging.

Potential benefits include:

Pain Relief – One of the primary reasons for spine surgery is to reduce chronic pain caused by conditions like herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease.
Improved Mobility & Function – Surgery can restore movement and flexibility, allowing patients to return to daily activities with greater ease.
Better Quality of Life – By alleviating pain and improving mobility, spine surgery can help patients regain their independence and engage in activities they once enjoyed.
Reduced Dependence on Medication – For patients relying on pain medications, surgery can be an effective alternative that minimizes long-term medication use.
Correction of Structural Issues – Conditions like scoliosis or spondylolisthesis can be corrected through surgery, leading to improved posture and function.
Enhanced Nerve Function – Decompressing pinched nerves can reduce symptoms like numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms or legs.

What Conditions Can Spine Surgery Treat?

Degenerative Disc Disease: A condition in which the discs between the vertebrae break down. Discs act as cushions and shock absorbers in the spine; over time, they can dry out, crack, and lose their flexibility, leading to pain and other symptoms.

Bulging and herniated disc: A bulging or herniated disc is a condition in which the disc between vertebrae in the spine is affected. A bulging disc involves the outer layer of the disc pushing out, while a herniated disc involves the inner disc material pushing through a tear in the outer layer.

Spinal stenosis: A narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the nerves and causes pain, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.

Spondylolisthesis: A condition where one of the vertebrae in the spine slips out of place, usually forward, relative to the bone below it. This slippage can cause pain, especially in the lower back, and can also lead to other symptoms like muscle tightness, numbness, or weakness.

What Procedures are Performed at USMD Hospital at Arlington?

Some of the procedures performed by spine surgeons on the medical staff of USMD Hospital at Arlington include:

Microdiscectomy/Discectomy
Spinal fusion in the neck and low back
Artificial disc replacement in the cervical and lumbar spine
Navigation-assisted spine surgery
Minimally invasive spine surgery, including robotic and tubular surgery
Revision surgery to treat failed back surgery syndrome

Why Choose USMD Hospital at Arlington for Spine Surgery?

At USMD Hospital at Arlington, surgeons on the medical staff follow a team approach to deliver high-quality care using the latest advancements in technology. That means patients benefit from:

Minimally invasive procedures: The surgeons on the medical staff are trained in various approaches including minimally invasive techniques. USMD Hospital at Arlington has also invested in some of the latest spine surgery technologies including robotics and spinal navigation, which can result in smaller incisions, less scarring and often faster recovery times for patients who are candidates.
Expert care: The surgeons on the medical staff are highly skilled and experienced in performing a wide range of procedures, ensuring that each patient receives expert care throughout their treatment at USMD Hospital at Arlington.
Comprehensive approach: Spine surgery involves more than just the surgical procedure itself. It begins with careful pre-operative care and continues with thorough post-operative care. The surgeons on the medical staff at USMD Hospital at Arlington are dedicated to this comprehensive approach which helps set patients up for successful surgical outcomes.

Spine Surgery FAQ

What Are the Different Types of Spine Surgeries?

Spine surgery treats injuries or diseases affecting the spine, including but not limited to degenerative disc disease, bulging or herniated disc, spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis. Spine surgeons are trained to handle a variety of procedures, though some focus on a few specific procedures so as to amass a high level of experience and expertise in those procedures.

How Can I Prepare for My Spine Surgery?

In short: Follow the instructions provided carefully. Once you’ve been scheduled for spine surgery, you will receive pre-op instructions designed specifically for the procedure you will be undergoing. These differ with each type of procedure, but typically you’ll be advised to stop eating and drinking for a specific amount of time before the procedure. You may also require various blood tests, x-rays, scans or other procedures beforehand to ensure you receive optimal treatment.

How Long Will It Take to Heal from Spine Surgery?

Healing time varies with the type of surgery performed and will be affected by many factors, including your overall health situation before the surgery. Depending on the type of surgery you have, you may go home the same day or stay a night or two at the hospital. USMD Hospital at Arlington can accommodate patients in both of these situations. Typically, most of the recovery process will happen at home. Recovery from spine surgery ranges from a few weeks to several months, depending on the procedure and your specific situation. Your surgeon will discuss recovery expectations with you prior to your scheduled surgery. The day you are discharged from the hospital the hospital nursing staff will go over your post-op instructions with you. Be sure to follow those instructions carefully, to ensure the best outcome and fastest possible recovery.

Is Spine Surgery Covered by Insurance?

Most health plans typically cover medically necessary surgeries. However, depending on your specific policy, you could be responsible for some or all of the cost. For planned, elective surgery, a member of the hospital’s business office team will review your insurance coverage with you before the surgery.

What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

“Minimally invasive” is a term applied to any surgery, and in spine surgery could include discectomy, spinal fusion or artificial disc replacement, that employs minimally invasive techniques. These techniques may include robotic surgery, spinal navigation, endoscopic surgery or just an overall approach to avoid as much tissue and muscle damage as possible. Overall minimally invasive means less disruption to surrounding muscles and tissue.

Minimally invasive procedures involve smaller incisions and less tissue damage. As a result, patients typically experience less scarring, less pain and less downtime, compared to traditional open surgery.

However, some conditions, such as tumors or infections in the spine, may not be treatable with minimally invasive techniques. The severity of the spine condition or prior treatments and surgeries may also limit the feasibility of minimally invasive spinal surgery.

What Technologies are Used for Spine Surgery?

Spine surgeons on the medical staff at USMD Hospital at Arlington remain at the forefront of innovation, employing minimally invasive techniques and advanced technology. In addition to the highly skilled surgeons USMD hospital offers spinal navigation and robotic spine surgery capabilities.

The spine navigation and robotics system combines advanced surgical planning software, robotic guidance, and navigation to enable smaller incisions and promote faster recovery. This state-of-the-art system is used in a variety of spinal procedures.

The system integrates three key components:

3D planning functionality to simulate and optimize the procedure using a CT-based model of the patient’s spine
Robotic guidance through a robotic arm that helps the surgeon execute the plan with high precision
Navigation, a surgical system that provides a roadmap for the surgeon while in the operating room

It's important to understand: The robot does not perform the surgery. Rather, the surgeon uses the robotic platform to enhance precision and control, allowing for very minute adjustments tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy. The surgery itself always remains completely within the surgeon’s control.

A key component of the platform is spinal navigation. Think of it as a sophisticated GPS navigation for back surgery – a tool that helps the surgeon pinpoint exactly where to focus.

Depending on the procedure performed, potential benefits of the robotic platform combined with spinal navigation, include:

Less exposure to radiation both for patients and for staff
Reduced risk of complications
Less pain following surgery
Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery

Choosing a Spine Surgeon

Undergoing spine surgery is a big step. Before proceeding with surgery, a patient should feel comfortable with their surgeon and the surgical plan. Patients are always encouraged to seek a second opinion.

It’s important for every spine surgery patient to feel 100% confident that spine surgery is the best option for their specific situation. It’s also important to know that the surgeon performing the procedure is skilled and experienced. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Keep asking questions until you’re confident you’ve made the right choice.

Here are some questions to ask when choosing a spine surgeon, to help you weigh candidates’ qualifications.

Ask about the surgeon’s experience.

Find out: How many of the recommended surgical procedures has the surgeon performed? Ideally, you’ll choose a surgeon who frequently performs the procedure you need.

Ask about the surgeon’s education and certifications.

Board certification, a spine surgery fellowship, and additional training are important when seeking a surgeon for spine surgery.

Ask about the surgeon’s practice and focus.

It’s important to choose a surgeon whose practice is focused solely or predominately on spine surgery, and if possible, on the type of surgery you need.

Ready to Take the Next Step Toward Relief?

The expert spine surgeons on the medical staff at USMD Hospital at Arlington are here to help you get back to living pain-free. Whether you're exploring treatment options or ready to schedule a consultation, we're committed to guiding you every step of the way.

Call us today or request an appointment online to start your journey to better spine health!