Long Island Laser Spine Surgery: Everything You Need to Know

Laser back surgeries or LBS are types of surgery that use a laser. It is quite different from other kinds of operations like traditional back surgeries and MISS or minimally invasive spine surgery. In this article, we will learn more about the LBS.

How is it different from other forms of back operations?

There are different kinds of back operations available today. It includes an open approach or traditional approach, MISS, and laser operation. Listed below are the difference between the three.

To find out about MISS, visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/minimally-invasive-spine-surgery to know more.

A traditional or open approach

During these types of operations, the surgeon creates a long incision at the back of the patient. They, they move muscles, fats, and other tissues away to gain access to the damaged area of the patient’s spine. It will lead to more prolonged recovery and healing time and can cause damage to unaffected tissues.

MISS

It uses a short incision compared to its traditional counterpart. A specialized tool called tubular retractors is used to make a small tunnel to gain access to the affected site. Different specialized equipment or devices can be placed in the tube during the operation. Because MISS is less invasive, it can lead to a less painful and faster healing and recovery time.

Laser

During this type of surgery, a laser is used by surgeons to remove a portion of tissue located in the nerves and the spinal cord of the patient’s back. Not like other kinds of operations, it is only appropriate for certain conditions like nerve compression that is causing a lot of pain to the patient. MISS and modern back operations are usually mistaken for one another. Some people assume them to be the same.

Adding complications to the situation is that MISS sometime, but not always, use a laser in their procedure. LBS like Long Island laser spine surgery are very rare, and only a few clinics or hospitals use them. Not only that, but there are also a few medical studies that demonstrated its advantages compared to other techniques.

What patients can expect from this method

When pressure is being placed on the nerves, it can lead to discomfort and pain. In the spine, things like bone spurs or herniated discs can usually cause compression or pressure. An example of this is sciatica, where the nerve is being pressured by tumors, swelling or other tissue, muscle and bone lumps.

It can lead to leg and lower back pain. The use of lasers can help decompress the nerve that is being pressured. It is done under local or topical anesthesia. It means that the surrounding muscle and skin of the back will be numbed to any form of pain.

There is also a big chance that the patient will be sedated throughout the procedure. One of the well-studied methods in this type of operation is called PLDD or Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression. The process uses laser treatments to remove disc tissues that might be causing pain and compression to the nerve.

During the PLDD procedure, a small probe that contains the laser will pass into the core of the affected area. It is accomplished using imaging technology. After that, energy is used to remove any tissue that is pressing the nerve carefully.

Benefits

The benefits of this type of method are that it is less invasive compared to the traditional methods. Not only that, but it can also be performed in outpatient clinics using local anesthesia. In a lot of ways, it has similarities with MISS. There is a limited amount of details regarding the effectiveness of this type of back surgery compared to other methods.

What is PLDD? Click here to find out more.

Recovery time

The recovery time of the patient can differ depending on the individual, and the specific procedure that was performed for the patient. Some people may recover and return to normal activities a lot quicker, while others may require more time to recover. How does the LBS compare to other kinds of back operation?

If a patient undergoes a traditional operation, it will require the patient to stay in the hospital for a couple of days after the procedure. The recovery time may take a couple of weeks. According to experts, it may take eight to twelve weeks to recover fully.

MISS, on the other hand, is usually performed in an outpatient setting. It means that you can go home after the procedure. Generally speaking, people undergoing the process can return to work in around five to six weeks. LBS has a faster recovery time compared to its counterparts. Since it is an invasive procedure, patients can go home after the process, and it will only take two to four weeks for patients to recover fully.