Spine Doctor in Four Corners

A Four Corners spine surgeon works in orthopedic trauma medicine, diagnosing and treating various diseases and conditions of the body’s musculoskeletal system. This includes all structures that enable range-of-movement, such as bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, joints, and nerves. A Four Corners spine surgeons provide non-operative and surgical treatments.

Such interventions address multiple cervical deformities, including degenerative disorders in specific regions of the lumbar, neck, or lower back. Orthopedic trauma is widespread among road accident victims, athletes, and patients with weak or brittle bones. Injuries to your musculoskeletal system require the unique capabilities of a spine surgeon specializing in treating traumatic bone, joint, and muscle injuries.

When Should You See a Spine Surgeon in Four Corners, Florida?

Orthopedic trauma can happen to anyone at a sports event, at work, or due to a car accident. Such injuries are often life-threatening and require prompt medical attention from a certified orthopedic trauma surgeon for the best outcome. Most, if not all, urgent care centers do not treat traumatic orthopedic conditions. Conversely, spinal surgery facilities are operated by specialized physicians trained in trauma medicine and ready to treat severe back injuries of all kinds.

You will likely be referred to a spine surgeon in Four Corners when conventional treatments have failed to relieve back pain, preventing the progression of everyday life. A spine surgeon may correct possible structural abnormalities, specifically those of the spine. They’re well-versed in using surgical and minimally-invasive methods to stabilize and decompress the vertebral column. Because of the spine’s delicate nature, surgery should be considered when correcting severe spinal pathologies such as tumors, hematomas, vertebral fractures, and abscesses.

The above disorders, including degenerative disc disease, stenosis of the spine, and herniated discs, can be caused by injury or compression of a nerve within the back and spine. Spinal degeneration could result from multiple sclerosis, syphilis, fluid-filled spinal cavities, autoimmune diseases, or a vitamin deficiency. Contact a specialized spine surgeon in Four Corners if you experience the following symptoms of spinal cord disorder or injury:

• Severe back pain
• Loss of bowel and urinary control
• Weakness or paralysis of the limbs
• Sudden odd positioning or neck twisting
• Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
• Lack of sensation in your lower extremities
• Exaggerated muscle spasms and reflex activities
• Difficulty coughing, breathing, or clearing phlegm from the lungs
• Intense pain or stinging sensation in the spinal cord nerve fibers

If you’ve recently experienced significant neck or back trauma, you may have a spinal cord injury until proven otherwise; therefore, you need proper evaluation.

Pre-Operative Evaluation

Spinal injuries aren’t always immediately apparent with trauma victims, plus numbness and paralysis may develop much slower. Undergoing diagnostic tests like a spine MRI, CT scan, X-rays, myelogram, and electromyography (EMG) can help pinpoint spinal cord abnormalities. A spine specialist can determine the severity of the complication and recommend the best course of treatment.

During a pre-operative evaluation, a surgeon collects vital facts about your health, including pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or drug allergies, to minimize surgical risks. An in-depth review of one’s medical history is equally important, as it enables the doctor and patient to communicate any concerns before and after surgery.

Note that if you use tobacco, you will be advised to stop or quit smoking altogether a few weeks before spine surgery. Tobacco use has been shown to increase the risk of anesthetic complications and even impair the wound-healing process.

Treatment of Common Types of Spine Surgeries

Treatments for spinal cord disorders largely depend on the severity and location of injury or abnormality. Some cases may be irreversible and are only managed with drugs. Others may require interventions, like activity modification or occupational therapy, to alleviate associated symptoms. Surgery may be ideal when a compressed nerve within the spinal cord causes back pain, as it could be a herniated disk.

Other conditions requiring spinal surgery include degenerative changes in the spine and slippage of the spine vertebrae (spondylolisthesis). Spinal surgery may also remedy cervical myelopathy; a condition caused when the cervical spinal cord pressure compromises essential functions like walking. Stabilizing and decompressing the spine’s neurological structures are two surgical techniques that are often combined with the following common spinal surgeries:

• Spinal Decompression and Fusion spinal surgery combine decompression and spinal stabilization with supporting the spine or relieving pressure off pinched nerves.
• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion is a spinal decompression and fusion procedure used to remove a degenerative or herniated disc in the neck. Unlike other surgeries performed on the back, an incision is made in the throat area to reach and remove a degenerative or herniated disc during an ACDF surgery.
• Spinal Discectomy is a decompressive surgery that involves removing herniated disc materials that press on the spinal cord or nerves.
• Laminectomy (laminotomy) is also a decompressive surgery performed to relieve compression of the nerve or spinal cord structures in the posterior elements of the spine.

Contrary to common misconceptions that spinal surgeries carry risks of permanent neurological damage, nothing couldn’t be further from the truth. Decompression of neurological structures and stabilization of the spine are surgeries safely conducted in the U.S. with low-risk associations. Spinal surgery aims to improve the patient’s overall physical function, not impede it. Therefore, consult a qualified spine surgeon in Four Corners, Florida to handle your procedure.

Contact an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Specialist in Four Corners, Florida Today

Provided you’ve been appropriately qualified for spine surgery, you can achieve significant pain improvement and resume normal or near-normal activities. If the procedure is minimally-invasive, most patients can generally function within several days. Following a few days of in-patient observation, a patient is sent home with instructions on how to keep the surgery area clean. While recovery is quick, for example, with a discectomy, pain is joint but improves markedly within one to two weeks post-surgery.

Our board-certified team of Four Corners orthopedic surgeons specializes in diagnosing and treating various spinal diseases and back pain conditions. We also offer pain management options for minor, chronic, and acute spine conditions. If you have been injured or experiencing unexplained back pain and require orthopedic intervention, call Orthopedic and Laser Spine Surgery in Four Corners at (855) 853-6542 to schedule an appointment today. You can also fill out our confidential online form and relay your concerns to our expert spinal surgeons.