Welcome!
Here at WellSpine, we offer a wide array of Minimally Invasive Surgery procedures, including but not limited to: Artificial Disk Replacement, Pedicle Screw Fixation, Cervical, Lumbar and Thoracic Discectomy, Decompression and Fusion. Dr. Batlle is fluent in Spanish as well!
ADR is an alternative to traditional spinal fusion and can help treat the pain associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD), a condition that affects an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 people in the United States each year. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is defined as a disc that has worn out or become injured and causes back pain.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first artificial lumbar disc in October 2004. Disc replacement replaces one or more damaged, diseased, or degenerated discs with artificial discs. The artificial disc is constructed from a polyethylene core sandwiched between two endplates made of a cobalt-chrome alloy. It restores the vertebrae above and below the disc to their normal position, thereby preventing them from pressing on the nerves between them and causing pain. By inserting new discs, this procedure preserves the flexibility of the spine. These materials usually do not harm the human body and are used in many other medical implants such as total knee replacement implants.
Am I a Candidate for ADR?
Your doctor can help you determine if you are a candidate for the an Artificial Disc. But generally those who have DDD and are experiencing ongoing neck or lower back pain that does not respond to conservative treatments may be a candidate for ADR.
What have the Results Been for ADR?
Long term studies suggest that artificial disc replacement technology protects the adjacent levels of the spine from degeneration due to overloading. As opposed to spinal fusion, ADR maintains or restores mobility of the spine. The results from the study conducted in this country to gain FDA approval show similarly positive results. Patients who received the artificial disc maintained flexibility, experienced improvements in pain and function, left the hospital sooner and were more satisfied with the procedure. The studies compared groups of patients receiving either the artificial disc or traditional fusion surgery. The rates of complications were similar for the two groups.
When appropriate, ADR can be used to treat patients of any age with either single - and multiple-level disc degeneration. In addition, some patients who experience sciatica, or pain that radiates down the leg, along with back pain, will be able to receive the implant.
Patient Experience
Patient response to disc replacement has been very positive. The surgery requires an anterior approach, which is a small incision made below the patient’s belly button. After removing the diseased disc, the surgeon then inserts the new, artificial disc in its place, securing the disc to the rest of the spine with the patient’s own ligaments and the annulus (hard part) of the diseased disc. Disc replacement surgery has a shorter recovery process and allows a faster return to normal activity. Patients also report less post-operative pain.
When a lumbar fusion is required due to degenerative
spinal diseases, pedicle screw fixation is used to internally immobilize the targeted spinal
segments and thereby enhance the fusion rate. Rigid fixation is achieved by the
placement of longitudinal connectors (rods) that interconnect the
pedicle screw heads. Pedicle screw fixation has historically been the gold standard for providing stabilization to the lumbar motion segment while the fusion matures. As an
alternative to standard open surgery, percutaneous placement of
pedicle screws diminishes injury to adjacent structures while
accomplishing the same goal of immobilizing the spinal segments.
Am I a Candidate for Pedicle Screw Fixation?
If you suffer from Degenerative Disc Disease in the lumbar spine, and have failed at least six months of conservative treatment without adequate results, you may be a candidate for spinal fusion. Your doctor can help you determine if you are a candidate for pedicle screw fixation.
What have the Results Been for Pedicle Screw Fixation?
Because the pedicle screw system gives more stability to the fusion site, it allow the patient to be out of bed much sooner. Most patients are able to return home when their medical condition is stabilized, usually within one week after fusion surgery. Limit your activities to avoid doing too much too soon. Avoid bending, lifting, twisting, and driving for at least six weeks. Clinical study results have shown that segmental fixation increases the fusion rate and clinical success of indicated patients undergoing the procedure in lumbar spine operations, as it does in the treatment of fusion of long bone injuries, scoliosis, and other comparable surgeries. It effectively reduces the rate of misaligned fusions, and improves patient satisfaction.
Patient Experience
Because the pedicle screw system gives more stability to the fusion site, it allow the patient to be out of bed much sooner. Most patients are able to return home when their medical condition is stabilized, usually within one week after fusion surgery. Limit your activities to avoid doing too much too soon. Avoid bending, lifting, twisting, and driving for at least six weeks. Clinical study results have shown that segmental fixation increases the fusion rate and clinical success of indicated patients undergoing the procedure in lumbar spine operations, as it does in the treatment of fusion of long bone injuries, scoliosis, and other comparable surgeries. It effectively reduces the rate of misaligned fusions, and improves patient satisfaction.
Herniated (or prolapsed) lumbar discs are a common cause of backache and sciatica. The herniation is a result of a protrusion of the cushioning disc (nucleus pulposus) through a tear in the surrounding outer edge of the disc structure. The outer disc may rupture completely resulting in an extruded disc or may remain intact but stretched resulting in a contained disc prolapse. This may then compress one or more nerve roots, resulting in pain along the sciatic nerve. A discectomy works by removing part of a prolapsed disc that is compressing nerves.
Am I a Candidate for a Discectomy?
Surgery is considered where there is nerve compression or persistent symptoms that are intractable to conservative treatment. If you have failed at least six months of conservative treatment without adequate results, you may be a candidate for a discectomy. Your doctor can help you determine if you are a candidate.
What have the Results Been for a Discectomy?
Discectomy usually provides faster pain relief than non surgical conservative treatment, although it is unclear whether surgery makes a difference in what treatment may be needed later on. When comparing open discectomy with micro discectomy, people have reported being equally satisfied with both techniques. However, micro discectomy resulted in a much shorter recovery period. A 2001 study reports that surgery results in the greatest improvement for people with moderate or severe sciatica caused by lower (lumbar) back disc herniation.
Patient Experience
People with prolonged symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with normal activities and work and require strong pain medications may gain significant relief from discectomy surgery.
Over the past decade, there have been dramatic improvements in the way that spinal fusion operations are performed. These newer techniques are often called Minimally Invasive Spinal (MIS) surgery. The goals of all these techniques remain the same, to achieve a lumbar fusion thus providing stability to the lumbar spine, and lessen the patient’s pain.
XLIF® is a minimally invasive procedure that offers major advantages for both the patient and the surgeon. It requires a smaller incision and is less traumatic to the body’s normal tissues, resulting in a faster, less painful recovery.
During the XLIF® procedure the lumbar spine is approached from the your side (laterally), your surgeon will use an X-ray to precisely position and locate the operative space. Next, your skin will be marked at the site where the two small incisions will be made. Your surgeon will use the latest instrumentation to access the spine in a minimally disruptive manner. The surgery is performed through a muscle that lies next to the lumbar spine known as the psoas muscle. Disc preparation is the next step. This is done by removing the disc tissue which will allow the bones to be fused together. Several X-rays will be taken during this stage to ensure the preparation is correct.
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Once the disc has been prepared, the surgeon will then place a stabilizing implant (an artificial graft) into the space to restore the disc height and enable the bones to fuse together. Once in position, a final X-ray will be taken to confirm correct implant placement. In the event that further stabilization is necessary, the surgeon may choose to insert additional screws, rods, or plates into the vertebrae.
For a single level XLIF® procedure, the surgery can be usually be performed in about an hour. Most patients stay in the hospital for 24 hours following the procedure, and do not require a brace. Occasionally, weakness may be noticed while lifting your leg after surgery. This psoas muscle weakness should return to normal fairly soon after surgery.
Am I a Candidate for the XLIF® procedure?
Not everyone is a candidate for this surgery, once conservative (non-operative) treatments have failed, you should consult a surgeon to see if you are an appropriate candidate.
What have the Results Been for the XLIF® procedure?
Less-invasive procedure allows for less tissue disruption
Procedure provides relief to patients who have lived with back or leg pain through years of various failed treatments, including steroid injections, physical therapy, and pain medication
Patients are typically walking the same day after surgery and require only an overnight stay in the hospital, compared to several days of immobility and hospitalization typical of traditional open approaches
Rapid return to normal activity, typically weeks, compared to months
Dr. Batlle
Patient Experience
Because the incision is so much smaller and less trauma is done to other tissues in the body during surgery, blood loss is minimal and most XLIF® patients are able to return home from the hospital within one to three days.
Disclaimer: The information and general healthcare guidelines may not be applicable to your health condition. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Medical treatment should be addressed by the professional healthcare practitioner of your choice. Neither WellSpinePA, our affiliates nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided on this website.
Am I a Candidate for ADR?
What have the Results Been for Pedicle Screw Fixation?
Surgery is considered where there is nerve compression or persistent symptoms that are intractable to conservative treatment. If you have failed at least six months of conservative treatment without adequate results, you may be a candidate for a discectomy. Your doctor can help you determine if you are a candidate.
