“A new minimally invasive procedure for treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis can relieve lower back pain,” says Rad Payman, MD, a board certified spine surgeon at Advanced Spine Institute. “A procedure called a laminectomy may be performed if non-surgical treatment and medication fail to relieve the pain, and now many patients can benefit from a less invasive version of the procedure called a microlaminectomy. The best treatment approach is determined by each patient’s condition.
“Stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal and / or narrowing of the nerve root canals, which conduct the individual spinal nerves. Stenosis occurs as a result of the growth of bone spurs and intervertebral discs bulging into the spinal canal which take up the space normally occupied by the spinal cord or spinal nerves,” says Dr. Payman. “Other symptoms of spinal stenosis include a burning or aching type of pain in the buttocks that radiates to the legs or weakness in the legs.
“A laminectomy involves the surgical removal of the lamina which is a bony portion of the spine composing part of the spinal canal. A laminectomy will relieve nerve or spinal cord compression caused by narrowing of the spinal canal,” says Dr. Payman. “However, a less invasive microlaminectomy procedure developed at Advanced Spine Institute is done with smaller incisions than are used in ‘standard’ procedures. Because there is less cutting of the back muscles and tissues, a patient’s recovery time can be significantly reduced. Microlaminectomies may provide improved long-term outcomes because there is less muscle and tissue damage. A microlaminectomy will remove a smaller amount of bone than is commonly removed in the standard procedures. This approach will relieve pressure on the spinal cord and lumbar nerves but will help maintain the maximum possible spine stability and strength.
“Most procedures are done in an outpatient setting with surgery usually done in less than an hour, and patients go home 1-2 hours after surgery is completed,” says Dr. Payman. “I have developed minimally invasive techniques that allow for faster surgery and small incisions of less than one inch which allows faster recovery.”
Dr. Payman’s background may be viewed on this link: http://www.thespinemd.com/Dr-Payman-Spine-Surgeon.html
Rad Payman, MD is a board certified spine surgeon who focuses his practice on the comprehensive treatment of patients with spinal disorders. He specializes in reconstructive cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine surgery including the most advanced techniques of minimally invasive and micro surgical spinal procedures. Dr. Payman performs spinal fusion, spinal disc replacement and procedures for spinal stenosis, herniated discs, scoliosis, failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) and other conditions and injuries.
Considering that these have been done for the last five years I’m not sure how this is news.