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New England Orthopedic Surgeons
300 Birnie Avenue, Suite 201
Springfield, MA 01107
Main/Appointments
(413) 785-4666
Lumbar Spine Surgery
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that both reinforces your back structure and stability by welding, or fusing, two vertebrae together. Normally, the vertebrae along your spine lend support each other, but sometimes one or a few may become weak and unstable. The goal of spinal fusions are to create a stable spine, with the goal of reducing pain and easing symptoms related to your spinal cord and nerves. There are many options for treating back pain and spine problems. Sometimes, nonsurgical treatments are more effective or safer with a lower risk of complications. But for some patients, spinal fusion may be the best option.
Our Most Common Surgeries
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
In an ALIF, Dr. Chandler would get to the vertebra through an incision in the abdomen. This allows a more direct route to the intervertebral disc. This approach allows access to your discs and spine without moving any nerves.
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Additional Resources:
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
In a TLIF, Dr. Chandler gets to the vertebra through an incision on your back. He then gets so the spine by removing part of the bone (lamina) where he then inserts a cage to create stability.
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Additional Resources:
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF)
In a LLIF, Dr. Chandler takes a side approach and centers the incision over the patient's side, right through the psoas muscle. This is the muscle that allows the hip to move.
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Additional Resources:
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Lumbar Decompression
A lumbar decompression is done when the disc or bone spurs are pinching nerves to cause your symptoms. These are generally two procedures in one: a laminectomy, where the top bone is removed to make room for the nerves, and a microdiscectomy, where a small part of the disc that was pushing on the nerves is removed.
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Additional Resources:
Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS): Lumbar
Spine surgery has traditionally been considered "open", where a long incision is made over the area to be able to see all the necessary anatomy. In recent years, it has become possible to accomplish the same goals of open surgery, but through smaller incisions. Minimally invasive spine surgery avoids significant damage to the muscles surrounding the spine, creates less pain, and promotes a faster recovery.
Additional Resources:
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Basivertebral Nerve Ablation (Intracept)
The Intracept Procedure is a surgery specifically for patients who describe pain in the middle of their low back that is made worse by physical activity, prolonged sitting, and bending forward, or with bending and lifting. This procedure disables the source of the pain, the basivertebral nerve, to reduce your pain.
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Additional Resources:
The Interacept Procedure
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