Back injuries commonly result from slip and fall accidents, car accidents as well as workplace accidents. Back injuries can cause excruciating pain and impact daily activities and movement.

Orthopedic After Injury Florida: The majority of back injuries can be treated non-invasively and don't require surgery. Yet, in many cases, orthopedic surgery is the only option to ensure optimal recovery after an injury.

If you ever find yourself or a loved one facing the possibility of undergoing surgery for back injuries, knowing what to expect goes a long way. In this blog, let's explore topics such as types of orthopedic surgery for back injuries, when they may be needed, and the risks associated with them to help you make an informed decision.

When do you need orthopedic surgery?

Orthopedists deal with injuries and conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Non-surgical methods typically precede such injuries and may show excellent results. However, cases where surgeries are crucial for the patient's recovery, are not uncommon either. The following injuries commonly require surgical intervention:

● Herniated or ruptured discs: Alternatively referred to as bulging discs, this injury occurs when one or more of the discs that cushion the spine's bones are damaged.

● Spondylolisthesis: A condition in which one or more spine bones slip out of place.

● Vertebral fractures: Injury to the spinal bones.

● Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal column resulting in pressure on nerves and the spinal cord.

Orthopedic surgery after sustaining injuries in Florida can aid pain management as well as prevent the patient's condition from worsening.

Types of orthopedic surgery for back injuries

Conditions such as spinal stenosis and herniated or ruptured discs benefit greatly from orthopedic surgeries. Back injuries cause mobility issues and may hinder daily functions. Surgical intervention can correct damages and prevent more issues from arising in the future.

Let's take a look at some common surgical procedures used to treat back injuries:

● Spinal laminectomy or decompression: Used to address pain, numbness, and weakness caused by spinal stenosis. The surgeon begins by removing the bony walls of the vertebrae and bone spurs to open up the spinal column. This helps alleviate the pressure on the nerves caused by spinal stenosis.

● Nucleoplasty: Also known as plasma disk compression, it is a laser surgery that uses radio frequency to treat low back pain caused by mildly herniated discs. A plasma laser device is inserted into a damaged disc through a needle. The tip is heated to create a field that vaporizes the tissue in the disc. Doing so reduces the size of the tissues, thus relieving pressure on the nerves surrounding the disc.

● Discectomy: This procedure is used to remove a herniated disc that is pressing on the spine or a nerve root.

● Spinal fusion: This procedure involves removing the spinal disk between two or more vertebrae and fusing them using bone grafts or metal devices secured with screws.

● Artificial disk replacement: This procedure is often regarded as an alternative treatment to spinal fusion to treat severely damaged disks. The damaged discs are removed and replaced with a synthetic disk to help restore height and movement between the vertebrae.

Risks associated with back surgeries

While orthopedic surgery after an injury in Florida is hugely beneficial to a patient's recovery, back injuries come with risks. Back surgeries are performed at the site in close proximity to the nervous system, significantly increasing the chances of infections and paralysis.

Following a spinal fusion procedure, it is common to experience a decrease in flexibility. A lengthy recovery period is required in order for the bone grafts to successfully fuse the vertebrae together. And the risks of reduced flexibility and extended healing periods are also common with other back surgeries. Loss of flexibility may also be permanent.

Conclusion

Back injuries can be debilitating and affect your life in many ways. Therefore, it is crucial that you seek medical help immediately after sustaining an injury. Delaying treatment only aggravates the injury and increases costs in the long run.

If you're looking for an Orthopedist after an injury in Florida, you're at the right place. Injury Assistance Network is the one-stop solution for all your injury-related needs. You don't need to go through it alone. IAN's team of experienced professionals is here for you!