There’s no such thing as a one size fits all bone spur surgery. In fact, there are several different procedures that can be recommended to patients with this condition. In some situations, two different types of spinal bone spur surgery (ie one to remove a piece of bone and one to stabilize the spine) might even be performed at the same time.
Surgical Procedures for Bone Spurs
Some surgeries are performed with the goal of decompressing the spinal cord or a nerve root that is being pinched by a bone spur or other tissue. These are known as decompression surgeries such as:
- Laminotomies. A small portion of the spinal cord’s thin, bony covering is removed
- Discectomies. Part of a spinal disc is removed which will decompress the bone spur.
- Foraminotomies. A small section of bone or disc is removed. This will create larger foramen or openings through which the nerve roots exit the spinal canal
- Facet Thermal Ablation. Often performed in conjunction with decompression surgery, this procedure deadens a nerve that carries pain signals to a facet joint. This will alleviate the pain of facet joint arthritis, a condition that causes spinal bone spurs.
Stabilization Surgery at BEST
It is important to note that each person’s surgery plan is entirely unique. The location of the bone spur and whether there are any other coexisting conditions can influence the type – or types – of surgery recommended. For example, patients with advanced stages of spinal degeneration might be recommended for stabilization surgery which involves the removal of a deteriorated disc and the fusion of vertebrae on either side of the disc.
At BEST Health System, we perform minimally invasive bone spur surgery on an outpatient basis. Our board-certified surgeons, Dr. Girton and Dr. Abbott use an incision that is typically less than an inch. This in turn reduces the overall risk of complication and recovery time. For more information contact us today!
