Lumbar Spine dynamic stabilization is a type of surgical procedure used to treat back pain with or without radiation to lower limbs in certain cases, through an incision in the midline of the back area to be treated.
Benefits of intervention
This technique allows to treat pain originating in the joints of the lumbar spine (low back pain or lumbago) or nerve roots coming out of the spine (sciatalgia or sciatica) in a minimally aggressive way, without the need to merge or fix definitely affected vertebrae so that they retain their mobility and function. It is indicated in cases of degenerative disease of the spine with a moderate degree of impairment. Combined with the treatment of a herniated disc (discectomy) at the same time, in order to replace the vertebral disk failure after excision. It can also be combined with fixation or fusion of one or more segments of the spine, to prevent overloading of the adjacent segment fixation and its eventual decline in the future.
Medical-technical description
The surgical technique consists of making an incision of adequate length in the lower back, depending on the area to be treated. Two screws are placed in each of the vertebrae to be treated. Over them is mounted the dynamic stabilization system, which may consist in a flexible connecting rod or an elastic damper system. This system brings stability to the intervertebral joints and also supports the excess load, which in another situation should support the joints of the spine.
The Procedure
Posterior Lumbar Fusion takes place in the operating room. Patients are positioned in a lateral decubitus or prone position. The surgery is performed utilizing general anesthesia, in most cases. The total surgery time may vary depending on the levels to be treated and patient characteristics and generally ranges from one to two hours. After surgeryand once awake, the patient is transferred to the recovery room for a period of time determined by the anesthesiologist, generally around 60 minutes. Afterwards the patient is taken to his room and can get out of bed the day after surgery. Depending on the case, the length of stay varies between two and four days.
Preoperative measures
- The patient is assessed prior to consultation, deciding and stating the specific aspects of the intervention and is given the informed consent
- The patient must provide with a comprehensive list of medicines taken regularly (including herbal medicines) at the time of the operation
- Conducting a preoperative evaluation consisting of a blood test, biochemistry, coagulation, chest radiograph and ECG
- The area to undergo surgery is washed the previous night and morning of surgery with antiseptic soap
- The patient must not eat or drink 8 hours before surgery
- The patient must not wear any metal object during operation (rings, bracelets, earrings, piercing, etc.)
Postoperative care
- The drains will be removed 24 hours after surgery. Patients are advised to wear a soft lumbar brace in the following days to protect the surgical area. It must be worn for one month
- The movement starts from the first day. The patient can walk without support since the removal of drains
- He must receive thromboprophylaxis and antibiotic
- Once discharged, the patient should contact us in the event of pain or shortness of breath, swelling or redness in the surgical area or fever and chills processes
- It is possible that, after surgery, during the early days the patient will feel some local discomfort, which disappears with medication prescribed by the surgeon
- Once discharged, the patient must contact us in the event of any untreatable pain by the usual means in the surgical area or fever and chills processes.
