Medical practices that provide care for the spine and spinal cord are called vertebrology.
Spine surgery is a branch of modern medicine which deals with the study and treatment of various traumas and diseases of the spine by means of a surgical intervention.
The most common diseases treated by spine surgery are as follows: degenerative diseases of the spine (intervertebral disk herniation, spinal canal stenosis, etc.); deformities caused by various injuries; scoliosis; injuries of the spine that do not damage the spinal cord; injuries of the spine that damage the spinal cord; tumors of the spinal cord and the spine.
Treatment of the spine in Vienna involves a wide range of medical services provided by multidisciplinary specialists in neurosurgery, neurology, orthopedics, neuro-roentgenology, traumatology and other specialties.
Spinal surgery in Vienna means:
Spine and spinal cord surgeries that cause minimal tissue damage are becoming more and more common in Vienna.
Spine surgery makes use of robotics. The specialists perform vertebrologic prosthesis surgeries.
The patient’s individual characteristics are taken into account in determining the tactics and method of treatment. All this makes European spine surgery one of the most advanced branches of the world medicine.
In short, modern spine surgery in Vienna focuses on the rapid and effective removal of large masses (including tumors of any grade of malignancy), the elimination of destroyed structural components of the spinal column, the restoration of normal biomechanical and reconstruction of the cosmetic structural integrity of the spine while preventing long-term damage to tissues.
Minimally invasive spine surgery is a type of intervention for which doctors use special instruments to access the spine through small incisions.
When performing a traditional open surgery, the doctor makes a large incision and shifts the muscles aside so as to see the spine and remove the affected and damaged part of the bone or disc. The surgeon can also easily place the grafts that are necessary in order to stabilize the vertebrae.
One of the main disadvantages of open surgery is that the shift of the muscles can lead to the damage of soft tissues. The surgeon usually affects a larger muscle area than it is required. There is a greater probability of muscle damage, and patients may experience postoperative pain which differs from the back pain in the preoperative period. This can lead to a longer recovery period.
Minimally invasive spine surgery in Vienna has been introduced to treat problems with the spine while minimizing damage to the muscles and other structures of the spine. Other advantages include small incisions, less bleeding and short hospital stays.
Although minimally invasive spine surgery offers plenty of advantages, it is important to mention that some problems with the spine and neck cannot yet be solved effectively with minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery is less time-consuming than open surgery, but some problems can be eliminated only by open surgery.
Laminectomy can make the spine less stable. If the bones of the back become weak, it is common to perform spondylodesis.
Spondylodesis can also be accomplished during laminectomy. Spondylodesis involves the implantation of a metal fastening structure or, in some cases, bone cement or a special substance to restore the damaged vertebra and fix it, but new types of implants allow for the fusion of vertebrae without implanting their own or non-native bone tissue, and are replaced by a special composition that facilitates the rapid reproduction of the vertebrae by their own tissues during the regeneration process.
This procedure involves removing a part of the herniated disc to relieve nerve irritation and inflammation. This is an open operation during which the back of the vertebra is completely or partially removed to access the disc rupture. Protruding or slipped discs, cushions separating the vertebrae can put pressure on the spinal nerve and cause pain in the back. In case of discectomy, the surgeon removes the whole disc or some part of it. Discectomy is performed through a large incision with the use of surgical instruments. Discectomy can be part of a larger surgical intervention which may include laminectomy, foraminotomy, or spondylodesis.
While performing foraminotomy, the surgeon cuts off the bones on the sides of the vertebrae to enlarge the area where the nerve roots come out of the spine. The enlarged space can reduce pressure on the nerves, thereby relieving pain. Foraminotomy can sometimes lead to a decrease in spinal stability, similar to that which occurs after laminectomy.
At the same time, it is possible to perform spondylodesis. This increases the amount of time you need to recover, but also makes your spine stronger and more stable. If the spine becomes unstable after foraminotomy, you may need to undergo spondylodesis so that the problem can be fixed.
When replacing a disc, the surgeon removes the damaged spinal disc and inserts an artificial disc between the vertebrae. The disc replacement procedure makes it possible for the spine to continue moving. This kind of surgery is gaining popularity as an alternative to spinal fusion. The recovery time after disc replacement in many people can be shorter than after spinal fusion. As is the case with any foreign object placed inside the body, there is a low risk of the device displacement or failure. The main risk of the operation is that the desired effect of the operation may not be achieved. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict this risk or avoid it. Frank discussions with your surgeon on this issue can help you find out what to expect from this operation.
This procedure involves administering bone cement into the vertebrae. It is used to reduce pain and make the spine stronger and more stable. When a similar but more expensive procedure known as kyphoplasty is performed, a device similar to a balloon is introduced to expand the compressed vertebrae before injecting bone cement.
Artificial disc implantationin Vienna is an alternative technique for treating spinal fusion when the interaction of adjacent vertebrae causes severe pain because of disc damage. These relatively new devices are still being studied, so it is not clear what their role as an option for back surgery can be.
