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Spine Surgery in Trenton, New Jersey

Affecting more than 40 million Americans, lower back pain most commonly includes overuse, muscle strain, or injury to the components that make up the lumbar region (lowerback): the muscles, ligaments, and discs that support the spine.

Nonsurgical treatment for lower back pain is preferable; however, not every instance of back pain can be treated using conservative methods. In these cases, surgical intervention is required to properly alleviate the painful symptoms associated with back pain. Surgical treatment options include lumbar fusion and balloon kyphoplasty to eliminate movement between affected discs, as well as lumbar decompression to reduce pressure on nerves causing pain and discomfort. As always, it is best to receive the advice of an orthopaedic doctor before considering any treatment options.

Lumbar Fusion

Lumbar fusion is performed to eliminate motion between painful vertebrae, in turn decreasing pain that occurs at that motion segment. The procedure may be performed for degenerative disc disease, a naturally occurring condition that wears away the shock-absorbing lumbar discs. Grafting the two vertebral bodies together encourages two bones to grow into one healthy vertebra. Bone grafts may be taken from the patient's hip, from a donor bone, or from a synthetic bone graft substitute during the fusion procedure.

While the surgery likely will result in a reduction in lower back pain and an improvement in levels of activity, the patient may experience a reduction in flexibility in the region. Post-operative rehabilitation and physical therapy exercise programs will help restore function and strengthen the muscles of the lower back.

Kyphoplasty Treatment for Compression Fractures

Compression fractures in vertebrae may result in severe pain, loss of mobility, breathing problems, and a "hunchbacked" posture, amongst other symptoms. Compression fractures occur due to extreme trauma to the spine, as well as natural degeneration. Elderly patients commonly develop compression fractures, as the vertebrae in the spine become brittle and frail due to aging.

Kyphoplasty is a common solution to compression fractures, and attempts to alleviate pain and restore the height and angle of the fractured vertebrae. During a kyphoplasty procedure, the spinal surgeon will insert a tiny balloon into the fractured vertebra and inflate it to create a cavity. As the balloon is removed, the orthopedic doctors will fill the cavity with bone cement to restore the vertebral height and repair the fracture.

Spine Surgery Excellence in Trenton, New Jersey

Employing twelve orthopaedic surgeons with specialties including general orthopaedics, spinal surgery, back pain disorders, and non-operative management of spinal disorders, the Trenton Orthopaedic Group is well-suited to treat your joint pain in a comfortable setting. Additionally, TOG's two offices conveniently located in Mercerville, NJ, and Pennington, NJ, service the state of New Jersey, as well as Southeast Pennsylvania.