Cervical Spine Treatments
The cervical spine houses the spinal cord as it makes its way into the brain. This section of the spine, consisting of seven vertebrae, C1-C7, begins at the base of the skull and connects to the thoracic spine (the “mid-back”). The cervical spine not only protects the spinal cord, but it must support the head, which weighs from 10 to 13 pounds. Because of the loads it bears, along with the flexibility inherent, the cervical spine is at risk for developing a number of painful conditions.
Dr. Albert performs a series of surgeries to alleviate pain and return full function:
ACDF is a spinal procedure that may be performed when non-surgical interventions have failed to achieve lasting pain relief in the instance of cervical radiculopathy. The objective of this surgery is to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord that has originated with bone spurs, herniated disc, or other degenerative disc diseases.
Cervical disc arthroplasty also is known as a cervical disc replacement is a type of joint replacement procedure that involves removing the damaged natural cervical disc and replacing it with an artificial cervical disc. The goal of the procedure is to eliminate the pressure being placed on the nerve root by the herniated disc without losing mobility in the neck.
A Laminoplasty is performed to reduce compression on the nerves to help maintain a full range of motion. The region performed depends on where the patient is experiencing the most intense symptoms. The operation may be performed from the back or the front of the body, depending on the particulars of the patient’s condition.
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Spinal Stenosis is a condition where there is pressure on the spinal cord which can affect movement in the arms and legs. Contact Dr. Todd J. Albert to discuss surgical or non-surgical treatment options for Spinal Stenosis.
The goal of this procedure is to create more space for a compressed spinal nerve in the neck. The procedure relieves the pressure that is being caused by a herniated or bulging disc that is pressing on a nerve root.
Lumbar Spine Treatments
The lumbar spine is the lower back where the spine curves inward toward your abdomen. It connects the thoracic spine (upper back) to the sacral spine, which enters the hips. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae, L1-L5. These vertebrae carry the most weight and are the largest of all the vertebrae in the spinal column. The lowest two vertebrae, L4-L5 and L5-S1 (into the top of the sacral vertebrae section) bear the most weight. These are the most prone to injury and degeneration of the discs. Most lower back pain originates from these levels.
Dr. Albert performs a series of surgeries to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves in this injury-prone section of the spine:
Sometimes known as decompression surgery, a lumbar laminectomy is performed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. This pressure is usually caused by bony overgrowths within the spinal canal, which can be the result of spinal osteoarthritis. The surgery removes the lamina, the back part of the vertebra that covers the spinal cord.
Microdiscectomy, also known as microdecompression, is one of the most common spine surgery procedures. The goal of this procedure is to remove part of the herniated disc that is pressing on the nerve to relieve the pain and protect against permanent nerve damage.
Posterior lumbar decompression and fusion (PLDF) is a surgical procedure that aims to relieve pain, and pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves in the lower back.
TLIF is a technique used for spinal fusion that inserts a bone graft and an artificial disc spacer into the area of the degenerated disc through a lateral approach to the spine. This procedure reduces the risk of injury to the joints.
Contact Our Award-Winning Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Dr. Todd J. Albert is a recipient of the Nicolas Andry Award, and has been consistently named a New York "Top Doc" since 2014, meaning he has the experience and knowledge to perform your spinal surgery. Contact him today by calling 212-606-1004 or online to schedule an appointment in New York City.
