2. Laser spine treatment is a form of surgery using minimally
invasive techniques to relieve the symptoms of neural
compression in the neck or back. It is considered an
outpatient procedure, which means overnight
hospitalization is not required, and it typically utilizes
endoscopic technology. An endoscope, which is a small
camera that can be used to look inside of a hollow body
cavity or organ, was used primarily for diagnostic
purposes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. However,
advances in medical technology over the past two
decades have made it possible for surgeons to perform
surgery on the spine and other parts of the body using
this innovative equipment.
3. Degeneration in the Spine
There are a variety of conditions that can be addressed with laser
spine treatment, the majority of which are degenerative conditions
that cause chronic pain due to deteriorating spinal joints, or due to
compression of a spinal nerve root or the spinal cord. While surgery
will not “cure” or stop spinal degeneration, it can relieve symptoms of
pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness in the neck, back,
and/or extremities. Nerve compression in the cervical spine (neck)
tends to cause symptoms to spread through the neck, upper back,
shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Nerve compression in the lower
back commonly gives rise to pain, tingling, and weakness in the
buttocks, hips, legs, feet, and toes. It is less common for degenerative
conditions to occur in the thoracic spine, as this segment of the back
has the added support and stability of the attached rib cage.
4. Conditions Treated by Laser Surgery
Degenerative spine conditions commonly treated by
endoscopic surgery include:
• Herniated discs
• Bulging discs
• Ligament hypertrophy
• Bone spurs
• Grades I and II spondylolisthesis
• Spinal stenosis
• Sciatica
• Spinal osteoarthritis
5. Benefits of Laser Spine Treatment
Laser spine treatment offers a variety of benefits over the common approaches to spine
surgery in decades past. For many years, surgery on the neck and back involved an open
spine approach with a large incision in the neck, throat, back, or abdomen, and also usually
included spinal fusion.
An endoscopic procedure requires only a small incision (usually less than one inch in length)
and does not necessitate dissection of muscles or other soft tissues surrounding the spine.
In addition, during laser spine surgery the surgeon generally only removes the portion of
bone or disc material that is directly causing neural compression. Recovery time for
endoscopic spine procedures averages two to four weeks.
During an open spine procedure, at least one large incision must be made, muscles are
dissected, and large portions of spinal anatomy are removed. Because this causes the spine
to be relatively unstable, a bone graft and hardware are often used to fuse two or more
vertebra together. Risks of nerve damage, infection, excessive bleeding, and failed back
surgery syndrome (FBSS) are much higher with open spine surgery, and recovery time can
last up to a year, making laser spine treatment a welcome alternative for many patients.
6. Limitations of Laser Spine Treatment
Not all patients will be candidates for laser spine treatment. Certain
spine conditions that involve severe structural problems or spinal
instability can usually not be treated with endoscopic techniques.
Scoliosis, Grade III or IV spondylolisthesis, kyphosis, lordosis, and some
spine conditions caused by previous surgeries generally do not
respond to endoscopic surgery.
As with any type of surgery, laser spine treatment should be
considered carefully by any patient who is weighing the pros and cons
of surgical procedures. Although minimally invasive, endoscopic
surgery still carries risks that should not be overlooked. Be sure to get
a second, or even third, opinion regarding spine surgery and the type
of procedure that offers you the best chance for pain relief.
7. When to Consider
Laser Spine Treatment
Most importantly, think of laser spine surgery only as a last-
resort treatment option after a
wide variety of conservative treatment
options have been tried. Common
non-surgical approaches to pain relief
include physical therapy, behavior
modification, hot/cold compresses, gentle
stretching, low-impact exercise, corticosteroid injections,
transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, and narcotic pain medications,
among others.
