Orthopedic Doctor in San Antonio, Texas

Spinal discs are one of the most vulnerable components of the spine. They are not made of had bone tissue but instead, they are flexible, rubber-like shells containing a soft, gel-like center. They absorb the impact of daily movements and can eventually become weak. A weakened disc may undergo degeneration that causes shifting and bulging which can impact nearby spinal nerves. Patients who are suffering from this type of damage – normally referred to as a herniated disc or slipped disc – will experience severe pain in the area of the spine affected, as well as possible symptoms in the extremities, such as numbness in the fingers or a tingling sensation down one or both legs. In some cases, disc replacement surgery is necessary to remove the damaged, weakened spinal disc and insert a biocompatible artificial replacement. This type of surgery may be favorable over spinal fusion surgery, which fuses two vertebrae together after a damaged disc has been removed. With a flexible artificial disc in place, it is possible to retain more natural movement in the spine.

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If you are experiencing back pain, you don’t necessarily need surgery to feel relief and restore your mobility and movement. However, you should still consult an orthopedic spine surgeon to learn if surgery may be an option for you in the future and to gain a better understanding of your minimally-invasive spine surgery options.

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• 360 Fusion
• Transforaminal Interbody Fusion
• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
• Posterior Lumbar Fusion
• Interbody Fusion
• Posterior Interbody Fusion And Instrumentation

Any surgery that relieves compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerves is considered to be decompression surgery. If the compression results from a disc herniation, the surgery is a discectomy. If the compression is because of a narrowed spinal canal that is placing pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, this surgery is a laminectomy. A laminectomy removes the back wall of the spinal canal to create more space for the spinal cord.

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When conservative treatments do not provide long-lasting relief of arm or leg pain, surgical intervention may be considered. A discectomy is a surgical treatment for disc herniation in either the neck or back. It relieves compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerve by removing the portion of the disc that is herniated or bulging beyond its usual boundaries.

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Information coming soon.

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Next Generation Orthopedic and Spine Institute is proud to offer AXIALIF Trans Sacral Fusion as a surgical procedure option for patients. Typically, patients experiencing painful disc degeneration or spondylolisthesis will opt for Trans Sacral Fusion surgery. The primary goal of surgery is to reduce the amount of pain you experience.

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About Disc Replacement

Spinal fusion for the management of lumbar degenerative disc disease has been available for several decades. The results of this procedure remain under constant scrutiny and progressive development. Anterior lumbar fusion was initially introduced in the early 1920s. Fibula and iliac struts, femoral rings and dowel, as well as synthetic metallic devices have been applied as fixation implements to aid in lumbar interbody fusion.

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Cervical Fusion

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a spinal fusion surgery in the neck, or cervical, spine. The surgeon makes an incision in the front of the neck. The contents of the neck are gently retracted, enabling the front part of the spine to be seen. Fluoroscopy is used to determine the correct level(s) before the disc material is removed and the fusion graft is inserted. A surgical plate is then screwed in place over the fusion level.

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Knee replacement surgery, also called knee arthroplasty, is a procedure performed to resurface the knee joint affected by arthritis. Metal and plastic components are used to cap the ends of the knee joint, along with the kneecap. This surgery is recommended as a last-resort option for patients who have severe arthritis or a severe knee injury.

Hip replacement surgery is a procedure performed to remove a hip joint afflicted with arthritis and replace it with an artificial joint made from metal and plastic components. This treatment option is recommended for patients whose pain can no longer be alleviated by conservative nonsurgical approaches.

Shoulder and rotator cuff surgery is performed to repair a torn tendon in the shoulder. The rotator cuff refers to a group of muscles and tendons that form a cuff over the shoulder.
This surgery is recommended when:

• The patient has a complete rotator cuff tear.
• The patient has a rotator cuff tear due to a recent injury.
• Several months of physical therapy haven’t improved the patient’s condition.
• The rotator cuff tear is causing the patient to lose function.

Hand and wrist surgeries include a range of surgical procedures performed to correct a variety of injuries and conditions that affect the hand and the wrist. A hand or wrist surgery is considered for conditions that conservative nonsurgical treatment can no longer alleviate. Some of these issues include chronic injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trauma of the hand or wrist.

Foot and ankle surgery is a sub-specialty of orthopedics that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions that affect the foot and the ankle. These conditions can range from bunions to tendon tears and severe arthritis. These surgeries can be performed to align broken bones, fuse painful joints, remove overgrown tissue, or repair a torn ligament or tendon.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a procedure performed to restore the function of the anterior cruciate ligament after an injury. It involves the tissue graft replacement of the ACL. The graft tendon can be taken from another part of the patient’s knee.

Here at Next Generation Orthopedic and Spine Institute, we offer an extensive range of treatment approaches for arthritis and cartilage injuries. Our conservative treatment approaches include special exercises, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and steroid injections. For those who don’t respond to conservative treatment, we recommend surgical options.

– This is a general term used for various procedures performed to relieve the symptoms caused by pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. It relies on surgically releasing the tight fascia, muscle, tendon, or sometimes bone that compresses the nerve and then cutting out the scar tissue around it.