Spinal injury treatment with spinal decompression and stabilization

Spinal injuries can cause much pain and make it hard for patients to move around. Still, surgeries like spinal decompression and stabilization can help relieve symptoms and stop more damage. A thorough clinical history, review of medical records, physical exam, and consultation with a neurosurgeon and anesthesiologist are usually part of the diagnostic process. In addition, laboratory tests and imaging tests like an MRI scan of the spine, electromyography, nerve conduction study, electrocardiogram, and chest X-ray, are used to diagnose a spinal injury severity and evaluate the patient's overall health. Treating a spinal injury takes several hours and might require a few days for a hospital stay. The operation is done under general anesthesia. Before the surgery, the patient is carefully prepared. Then, the surgeon uses neuronavigation to guide the spinal decompression and stabilization surgery. During the operation, the back part of the vertebrae, the lamina, is removed to give the spinal cord more room. The vertebrae are then held together with rods and screws. Postoperative care and symptomatic treatment are provided to ensure a smooth recovery and long-term success of the procedure. Spinal decompression and stabilization surgery is done to treat the cause of the symptoms, reduce pain, improve mobility, stop more damage to the spinal cord, and improve health. As a rule, patients require some rehabilitation following the surgical treatment.