Spine Surgery
The spinal cord is surrounded by bones called vertebrae as well as soft tissues that cushion them, bind them together, and connect them to muscles so you can move. An orthopedic spine surgeon treats injuries affecting these structures rather than the spinal cord itself. Orthopedic spine surgery is delicate work because of the risk of inadvertent injury to the spinal cord.
If you require an orthopedic surgical procedure for an injury sustained in a car accident, a No-Fault spine surgeon in New York and New Jersey has the experience to perform the procedure with the utmost care. Contact us today for more information on how we can best help you!
Common Back Injuries From Car Accidents
A car accident can exert enormous forces on your body. In many cases, your back absorbs a lot of this pressure. As a result, injuries of the back and spine from a car accident are extremely common. Treating acute back injuries as soon as possible is important to prevent them from getting worse and causing long-term complications. Here are some examples of injuries that may occur due to a car accident:
Spinal Stenosis
The spinal canal is a space within the vertebrae that contains the spinal cord. Traumatic injury to the back can cause changes in the spine that cause the space to narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord.
Spondylolisthesis
Trauma from a car accident can cause one of the vertebrae of the spine to slip out of its anatomic position, causing it to push on the bone below.
Herniated Disk
Intervertebral disks are cushioning structures between the bones of the spine consisting of a hard, rubbery exterior and a soft interior. The soft part inside can leak out if a traumatic injury causes a rupture of the hard exterior. A herniated disk can be a cause of spinal stenosis.
Spinal Fracture
The vertebrae are as susceptible to breaking as any other bone in the body if subjected to force that exceeds their tolerance.
Spinal injuries such as these can cause radiating pain, muscle spasms, stiffness, or numbness and tingling of the extremities.
Orthopedic Spine Surgeries
Traumatic injuries to the spine from a car accident may require surgery to correct. Here is an overview of some orthopedic procedures involving the spine:
Laminectomy
This procedure helps relieve spinal stenosis by removing the back of the spinal canal, also known as the lamina.
Diskectomy
If you have a herniated disk, a diskectomy can be performed to remove the damaged portion, relieving pressure on the spinal cord or surrounding nerves.
Spinal Fusion
The spine may be unstable following a diskectomy. A spinal fusion is sometimes performed to connect the two affected vertebrae into a single, solid unit. This is accomplished by placing bone graft material between the two vertebrae and holding them together with hardware until they heal.
Corpectomy
A corpectomy is a procedure used to remove the body of one of the vertebrae. This is then replaced with a bone graft.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Stimulating the spinal cord can block pain signals by sending mild electrical currents to the brain.
No-Fault in New York
No-Fault specializes in spine surgery and will ensure you get the correct treatment after surgical treatment in the New York City area.
Because of the risk of damage to the cord from orthopedic spinal surgery, it is important to find the best spine surgeon available. No-Fault Doctors offers you access to experienced specialists. Contact us today!