Sciatica pain

---

Sciatica is often described as mild to severe pain in one leg. Sciatica is caused by compression of one or more of the five sets of nerve roots in the lower back. Doctors sometimes call sciatica a radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is a medical term used to describe pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms or legs caused by a nerve root problem. If the nerve problem is in the neck, it is called cervical radiculopathy. However, since sciatica affects the lower back, it is called lumbar radiculopathy.

Radiculopathy occurs when compression of a nerve root by a ruptured disc or bone spur occurs in the lumbar spine before it joins the sciatic nerve.

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a lateral curvature (to the side) in the normally straight vertical line of the spine. When viewing a person with a normal spine from the side, there is usually a slight roundness in the upper back and there is a neglect of the backward tilt in the lower back. When a person with a normal spine is viewed from the front or back, the spine appears to be straight. When a person with scoliosis is viewed from the front or back, the spine appears to be curved. There are many types of scoliosis and many causes of curvature:

• The congenital scoliosis is the result of a bone defect that is present at the birth.
• The neuromuscular scoliosis is the result of abnormal muscles or nerves and is often observed in patients with spina bifida or cerebral palsy.
• The degenerative scoliosis may be the result of a traumatic bone collapse, previous major surgery back or osteoporosis.
• Certain types of spinal cord abnormalities can also cause scoliosis.
• The most common type of scoliosis, called idiopathic scoliosis , does not have a specific identifiable cause.

Surgical procedures for pain

Minimally invasive surgery

The percutaneous implant surgery technique in the back works by making minimal incisions, dilating the tissues, without making a dissection or having to remove them. It is carried out through a tube that progressively dilates the tissues and, through which, the implant is placed in the vertebral bone. The patient can walk almost immediately because the tissues are not injured.

Endoscopic surgery

Endoscopic spinal surgery consists of trying to apply the same principles of open surgery, but with the least possible aggression to the patient’s structures. To do this, a small incision of about 15 mm is made, where we place a cannula of that size and inside this cannula we introduce an optic that allows us to expand and magnify the work field, therefore, it does not force us to perform large dissections to access the patient’s spine.

The advantages it offers, compared to conventional surgery, are several:

Smaller incision with reduction of trauma to muscle tissues.
Reduction in the rate of infections.
Less post-surgical pain, with a decrease in the consumption of analgesics.
Prompt postoperative reintegration to daily and work activities.
Better aesthetic appearance, the scar does not exceed 1.5 – 2 centimeters.
Basically, spinal endoscopy is indicated for: lumbar disc herniation surgery and canal stenosis surgery.

Not every patient is a candidate for endoscopic and / or minimally invasive surgery, the symptomatology, anatomy, as well as the previously assessed sagittal balance should be evaluated mainly.

Open spine surgery

Traditional spinal surgery, understood as an open surgery technique, is carried out to correct the cause of back pain. For example, when a herniated disc compresses a nerve root, and all non-surgical treatments have failed, this technique removes the compression. Currently this type of surgery is performed when, due to anatomical conditions, we are unable to apply less aggressive techniques such as endoscopic surgery.

Cervical Disc Prosthesis

With the current concepts of clinical diagnosis, biomechanics and technology, multiple models of cervical prostheses have been developed and, in general, with clinical results similar to the traditional anterior arthrodesis (surgical intervention in which two bone pieces are fixed, anchoring a joint). Which has biomechanical disadvantages that can represent clinical problems, especially in long-term follow-up.

There are currently many designed prostheses and many others in the development process, but there are few that have had the benefit of frequent use and in a significant number of patients and it is in those disc prostheses that Spine Clinic Vallarta works to give you the best safety to our patients

Bryan (Medtronic)

Prestige (Medtronic)

Prodisc-C (Synthes)

In general terms, the indications to place a disc prosthesis are in patients who present pathology with soft hernias and where it can be shown that the segment to be intervened remains in motion.