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What Surgery Is Done for Spondylosis?

Spondylosis causes you to lose normal function of your spine. Also known as spinal osteoarthritis, spondylosis affects the neck and back. It is typically caused by aging. John J. Regan, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon says that 75 percent of the time, spondylosis can be treated with medicines and therapy. However, surgery sometimes is required.

  1. Surgery

    • Removing tissue pressing on nerves is called decompression surgery. Spinal fusion is called stabilization surgery.

    Decompression

    • Decompression procedures include facetectomy to remove facet joints, foraminotomy and laminotomy to make vertebral openings to relieve nerve compression, laminectomy to remove laminal bone which protects the spinal cord and corpectomy to remove part of the vertebral body.

    Stabilization

    • With stabilization surgery the doctor will fuse spinal bones together and use wires, rods or other instruments to increase spinal stability.

    Other

    • Other stabilization procedures include interspinous process decompression in which an implant is inserted between bones in the back of the vertebral body to keep nerves from pinching. Another option is dynamic stabilization in which an implant is attached to your spine for support.

    Risks

    • Surgery comes with risks which include infection, pain, swelling, injury to your spinal cord and nerves, not improving and possibly needing more surgery.

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