Orthopaedic Surgery | Orthopaedic Surgery of the Spine Questions Spinal Stenosis

Does laser spinal surgery exist for spinal stenosis?

My friend was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. What are the treatment options? Does laser spinal surgery exist for spinal stenosis?

2 Answers

NO
The short answer is "yes," but it's not quite that simple. If the usual conservative treatments fail (rest, NSAIDs, PT, Epidural Steroid Injections) and surgery is indicated, there are basically 3 surgical options:

1. Open lumbar laminectomy (tradition surgical technique). This is most commonly performed.

2. Minimally invasive decompression (same surgery, but preserves more of the patient's normal anatomy-muscles, ligaments, tendons, bone). This is becoming more popular, but still less common than #1.

3. Laser assisted decompression (like #2, but a laser is used to "shrink" arthritic ligaments & disc material). By far the least commonly being performed and usually at special "laser spine centers." This technique may be associated with higher complications.

The most important thing is finding a surgeon with significant experience & good outcomes in whichever technique that particular surgeon performs.

Steven M. DeLuca, DO
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