Spondylolysis is described as being a defect in the pars interarticularis, part of the anatomy of a vertebra. Most cases of spondylolysis occur in the bottom vertebra, the L5 vertebra in the lumbar region. Spondylolysis is also capable of occurring in other vertebra in the lumbar region as well, and it may also occur in the thoracic vertebrae of the spine as well.
Most patients that are dealing with spondylolysis are not actually required to pursue spondylolysis surgery options because most symptoms of spondylolysis are capable of being resolved with non-surgical methods of treatment. However, there are situations where spondylolysis surgery options become the best course of action to repair the damage in the spine, such as when nerve pain is being caused for example. There are two primary types of spondylolysis surgery options which are laminectomy and posterior lumbar fusion.
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Laminectomy
This is a spine operation that is designed to remove a portion of the vertebral bone, or more specifically, the lamina. There are a number of different types of laminectomy spondylolysis surgery options and they generally vary based on how invasive they are. The most minimal laminectomy is one that involves small skin incisions that are made, then back muscles are pushed away rather than being cut and the vertebra that are next to lamina are actually left intact.
The traditional lamina surgery on the other hand involves removing the entire posterior backbone and any and all overlying muscles and ligaments as well. The typical recovery period will differ based on what type of laminectomy has been done. In the minimal procedure, the recovery period only takes a few days. With the conventional open style surgery, the recovery period takes weeks or months instead.
Posterior Lumbar Fusion
This is a type of spinal fusion that is also known as spondylosyndesis or spondylodesis and it involves combining two different vertebrae together, or sometimes more. By way of autograph or allograft, the surgeon will use supplementary bone tissue along with the body’s own natural osteoblastic processes in order to eliminate the pain that is associated with the abnormal motions of the vertebra because it is designed to immobilize the actual vertebra themselves.
Spinal fusion is definitely done most commonly on the lumbar portion of the spine, which is the method that is used when it comes to spondylolysis surgery options. It is also used to treat other problems as well. This type of surgery is most often chosen when the patient is dealing with severe pain or a neurological deficit as a result of the spondylolysis that has not responded to more conservative methods of treatment.
Jesse is the co-founder and visionary CEO of The Healthy Back Institute®, the world-leading source of natural back pain solutions. His mission as a former back pain sufferer is to help others live pain free without surgery and pharmaceuticals.
