Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy Jupiter Island Port St. Lucie Ft Fort Pierce Vero Beach US Virgin Islands Florida FL

The neural foramen is an opening where nerve roots exit the spine and travel throughout the body. It creates a protective passageway for nerves that carry signals between the spinal cord and the rest of the body. A cervical foraminotomy is a surgical procedure that is done to enlarge that passageway. This narrowing can be caused by a herniated disc, bone spurs, or thickened ligaments or joints, which may result in painful pinched nerves. The procedure is performed from the back (posterior) with the patient on his or her stomach.

Traditional, open spine surgery involves cutting or stripping the muscles from the spine. Today, a cervical foraminotomy may be performed using a minimally invasive procedure that allows your spine surgeon to separate the fibers of the muscles surrounding the spine rather than cutting and stripping the muscles away from the spine.

How is it done?

The Operation

The operation is performed with the patient on his or her stomach.

Decompression

A 1- to 2-cm small incision is made on the symptomatic side of the neck. Using an operating microscope and x-ray guidance, the muscles are gradually dilated and a tubular retractor inserted to allow access to the cervical spine. Bone or disc material and/or thickened ligaments are then removed to decompress and relieve pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerves.

The tubular retractor is removed, allowing the dilated muscles to come back together and the incision is closed. This procedure typically takes 2 hours to perform.

Closure

The incision is closed, and in most instances results in only a small scar.

After Surgery

This minimally invasive procedure typically allows many patients to be discharged the same day of surgery; however, some patients will require a longer hospital stay. Most patients will notice immediate improvement of some or all of their symptoms; however, other symptoms may improve more gradually.

A positive attitude, reasonable expectations and compliance with your doctor’s post-surgery instructions all may contribute to a satisfactory outcome. Many patients are able to return to their regular activities within several weeks.

It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications, and benefits of spinal surgery with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your physician’s judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.

Spine Surgery Procedures

Here are a few of the spinal surgeries and cutting-edge techniques Dr. Lenard uses:

Cervical Laminoplasty

Cervical Laminoplasty is the reshaping and repositioning of bones to relieve pressure on the spinal nerves in the cervical spine (neck). It is commonly performed to treat spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). Read More

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

An anterior lumbar interbody fusion is removing of disc or bone material from between two adjacent lumbar (lower back) vertebrae. The space is then bridged with a bone or metal spacer. It is can be performed as an open surgery or using minimally invasive techniques. Read More

Lumbar Laminectomy

A lumbar laminectomy is a procedure in which bone is removed from the lower spine. It relieves pressure on the spinal nerve. It is performed to treat pain from pressure on the nerve from lumbar stenosis. Read More

PLIF and TLIF

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion are two types of spinal fusion procedures that mend the spinal bones together. Both of these procedures are used through an incision in the posterior (back) and are minimally invasive. Read More

Balloon Kyphoplasty

A balloon kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to treat vertebral compression fractures (VCF). These fractures are often painful and limit spine mobility, and are commonly caused by osteoporosis, spinal tumors, or traumatic injury. In kyphoplasty, small incisions are made in the back and tiny balloons are inflated next to the fracture in order to push the bones back into place. The bone is then cemented in place in order to strengthen it and to stabilize the fracture. Read More

Microdiscectomy

Microdiscectomy, which is also referred to as microlumbar discectomy (MLD), is a procedure performed to relieve pain for patients with a herniated disc. The cause of the pain is the soft gel in the center of the disc leaking out and putting pressure on a nerve root. MLD consists of a minimally invasive removal of the herniated portion of the disc (the jelly) and any broken disc fragments. It is one of the most common surgeries performed by spinal surgeons, if not the most common. Read More

Spinal Fusion Surgery

A spinal fusion is a procedure that involves placing bone graft material between adjacent vertebrae to promote bone growth that joins together, or “fuses” the two structures. The procedure can be performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques in some cases. Read More

XLIF

Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) is an approach to spinal fusion in which the surgeon accesses the discs between vertebrae and fuses the lumbar (lower spine) using a surgical approach from the side of the body, rather than the front or back. Read More

Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy

A posterior cervical foraminotomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to relieve the symptoms of a pinched nerve in the cervical spine (neck). A posterior cervical foraminotomy enlarges the neural foramen around a pinched nerve. The neural foramen is the opening through which a nerve root exits the spine. Read More

Posterior Cervical Fusion

Posterior cervical fusion is a procedure that allows two or more vertebrae (bones) in the cervical spine (neck) to grow together into one solid bone. It is done through an incision in the back of the neck. A bone graft is attached to allow the vertebrae to fuse together. Read More

Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion

A cervical laminectomy and fusion is a procedure to make the spinal canal larger by removing the spinous process (bony projection on the back of a vertebra) and lamina (bony arch on either side of the spinous process). Read More

Stem Cell Therapy for Back Pain

Stem cell therapy is a treatment that can be used for severe spinal cord injuries that result in damage to nerve cells in the spine. Stem cells can be used to repair or replace the nerve cells in the spine which were killed as a result of the injury to the spine. Read More

Anterior Cervical Corpectomy Spine Surgery

An anterior cervical corpectomy spine surgery and fusion is removal of vertebral bone and spinal disc material. It is performed in order to reduce pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves in the cervical spine (neck). Spinal fusion is the placing of bone grafts between the vertebrae to promote bone growth. Read More

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is the most common procedure used to treat damaged cervical discs. It relieves pressure on the nerve roots or spinal cord by removing the ruptured disc. A bone graft is then placed in the space previously occupied by the disc. Read More

VIA Disc NP

VIA Disc NP is a non-surgical off-the-shelf, processed human nucleus pulposus (NP) allograft intended to supplement degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs). Read More

Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy

How is it done?

The Operation

Decompression

Closure

After Surgery

Spine Surgery Procedures

Cervical Laminoplasty

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Lumbar Laminectomy

PLIF and TLIF

Balloon Kyphoplasty

Microdiscectomy

Spinal Fusion Surgery

XLIF

Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy

Posterior Cervical Fusion

Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion

Stem Cell Therapy for Back Pain

Anterior Cervical Corpectomy Spine Surgery

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

VIA Disc NP

Contact Dr. Alexander Lenard

Call 561-836-7248