Spine Surgery Made Easy With Laser

Before discussing in details about invasive laser spine surgery, we should know about lasers and how exactly they work and and used to treat diseases. A laser is actually a beam of light energy. This beam transmits its energy onto the damaged tissue to cure any kind of problem, like eruptions or stretch marks. It can also be used in the rectifying of eye problems such as near or far sightedness.

Lasers are based on the principle of photons stimulating the emission of other photons. This creates and magnifies light. The light is reflected back and forth through this material using two mirrors. These qualities distinguish a laser from a light bulb. That is the reason for extensive use of the former in most medical treatments. However, judicious use of lasers is essential, and any kind of risk is avoided.

Physicians make use of lasers to make incisions wherever required. Laser surgery has been useful in ophthalmology and dermatology. Even tumors can be removed using laser. They are also used in transplantation of hair, mainly to prepare the part where new hair will be adjusted.

Having discussed the details about laser, we now need to know the use of laser in treating back problems.

Back pain is caused due to several reasons. When a diagnosis comes positive, and the reasons are known, surgery is performed to get relief from the pain in the neck, arms and back. A surgery is initiated by making an incision in the body using laser to reach the affected area.

In the area of spinal pain, the use of Laser is made in treating herniated or damaged discs. MicroDiscectomy and discectomy are the procedures that refer to the removal of a part or the complete intervertebral disc surgically. Discectomy is actually an open surgery procedure and microdiscectomy is a procedure that is minimally invasive. It is used widely to remove a ruptured disc.

In the case of microdiscectomy, the procedure includes the passing of laser fiber using a needle and its placement into the disc to cause vaporization to occur in the inner part of the disc. Another type of surgery called laminotomy is done in the case of ruptured discs.

The ruptured disc pressurizes one or more than one nerves. Surgery is done and the nerve root is exposed by removing the lamina covering the nerve root. Laser beams are an aid in making long incisions and also for removal of affected parts.

The Laser employed for these surgeries is a 2. 1 Holmium YAG Laser which exists today as the most effective laser in back surgery and specifically in arthroscopic and endoscopic surgery. Four different laser systems include argon, Nd:YAG (CW), Nd:YAG (Q-switched), and Ho:YAG.

Introduction of Lasers in spine surgery procedures has not only brought minimum invasiveness to surgical methods, but has made the till-now complicated surgery more convenient for the patient as well as doctors.

Degenerative Spine