Spinal Fusions: Necessary Treatment?
Two decades ago lumbar spinal fusions were relatively rare. Most surgeries of the lumbar spine involved a decompressive laminectomy (removal of bone) without a fusion. But, over that time span, the rate of spinal fusions in the USA has increased at an alarming rate: a fifteen-fold increase between 2002 and 2007 alone. Now, almost half of all lumbar spine surgeries […]
The Failed Promises of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
First, what exactly is minimally invasive spine surgery? You would think that this term means surgery involving minimal manipulation of, and minimal damage to the tissues of the spine and around the spine. But, in reality that is not necessarily the case. The definition of minimally invasive spine surgery is not based on the amount of tissue removed or manipulated, […]