Dr. Schwartz's surgical procedures
When non-operative treatments aren’t working, Dr. Langhorst will refer you to OrthoIndy spine surgeon, Dr. David Schwartz. The following neck and spine conditions may require surgical intervention.
Nerve or spinal cord compression
When nerves or the spinal cord are compressed, it can result in pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, loss of coordination or balance and even trouble with bowel or bladder function.
During surgery, whatever is causing the compression is removed – which can include bone or bone spurs, disc material, ligaments or cysts.
Instability
Abnormal motion between the bones in your back can result from degeneration or aging of the spine or sometimes from developmental defects in the bones. Fractures can often lead to instability of the spine.
Finally, the surgeon may need to make the spine unstable in order to get pressure off of the nerves. When instability is present, a spinal fusion is generally needed to restore the stability to the spine.
Spine deformities
When the spine loses its normal shape and results in scoliosis or kyphosis, surgery is sometimes required to restore the alignment of the spine. A spinal fusion may be performed to permanently hold the spine in its improved position.
The Ultimate Guide to Back Pain Relief
Find out what's causing your back pain and how you can treat it with OrthoIndy's ultimate guide to healing back pain.
Read the guide