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Monday February 6th 2012

SPINE & NEUROLOGY

Arthrodesis
Arthrodesis, also known as artificial ankylosis or syndesis, is the artificial induction of joint ossification between two bones via surgery. This is done to relieve intractable pain in a joint which cannot be managed by pain medication, splints, or other normally-indicated treatments. The typical causes of such pain are fractures which disrupt the joint, and arthritis. It is most commonly performed on joints in the spine, hand, ankle, and foot. Historically, knee and hip arthrodeses were also performed as pain relieving procedures, however with the great successes achieved in hip and knee arthroplasty, arthrodesis of these large joints has fallen out of favour as a primary procedure, and now are only used as procedures of last-resort in some failed arthroplasties.

Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR) is a type of arthroplasty. It is a surgical procedure in which degenerated intervertebral discs in the spinal column are replaced with artificial ones in the lumbar (lower) or cervical (upper) spine. The procedure is used to treat chronic, severe low back pain and cervical pain resulting from degenerative disc disease.

Brain Tumor Surgery
Although there is no generally accepted therapeutic management for primary brain tumors, a surgical attempt at tumor removal or at least cytoreduction (that is, removal of as much tumor as possible, in order to reduce the number of tumor cells available for proliferation) is considered in most cases. Many meningiomas, with the exception of some tumors located at the skull base, can be successfully removed surgically. Most pituitary adenomas can be removed surgically, often using a minimally invasive approach through the nasal cavity and skull base (trans-nasal, trans-sphenoidal approach). In more difficult cases, stereotactic radiosurgery, such as gamma knife radiosurgery, remains a viable option. Large pituitary adenomas require a craniotomy (opening of the skull) for their removal. Radiotherapy, including stereotactic approaches, is reserved for the inoperable cases.

Deep Brain Stimulation For Parkinsons
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure used to treat a variety of disabling neurological symptoms—most commonly the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), such as tremor, rigidity, stiffness, slowed movement, and walking problems. DBS uses a surgically implanted, battery-operated medical device which is similar to a heart pacemaker and approximately the size of a stopwatch to deliver electrical stimulation to targeted areas in the brain that control movement, blocking the abnormal nerve signals that cause tremor and PD symptoms.

Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a medical procedure where the original height and angle of kyphosis of a fractured vertebra (of certain types) are restored, followed by its stabilization using injected bone filler material. Angle and height restoration are carried out using either hydraulic or mechanical intravertebral expansion. Kyphoplasty is designed to stop the pain caused by the bone fracture, to stabilize the bone, and to restore some or all of the lost vertebral body height due to the compression fracture. It is most commonly performed for spinal compression fractures caused by osteoporosis.

Laminectomy
Laminectomy is a spine operation to remove the portion of the vertebral bone called the lamina. The lamina is a posterior arch of the vertebral bone laying between the spinous process. Indications for laminectomy include (i) treatment of severe spinal stenosis by relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, (ii) access to a tumor or other mass lying in or around the spinal cord, or (iii) a step in tailoring the contour of the vertebral column to correct a spinal deformity such as kyphosis. The actual bone removal may be carried out with a variety of surgical tools, including drills, rongeurs, and laser.

Laminoplasty
Laminoplasty contrasts with vertebral laminectomy in the amount of bone and muscle tissue that has to be removed, displaced, or dissected in the procedure. This is a procedure for the treatment of spinal stenosis by relieving pressure on the spinal cord. The procedure involves the cutting the lamina on both sides of the affected vertebrae and then “swinging” the freed flap of bone open thus relieving the pressure on the spinal cord. The bone flap is then propped open using small wedges or pieces of bone such that the enlarged spinal canal will remain in place.

Lumbar Discectomy (endoscopic)
Lumbar discectomy (Ruptured or Herniated Disc) is a surgical procedure to remove part of a damaged disc in the lower back. The discs are the pads that separate the vertebrae. This procedure is commonly used when a herniated, or ruptured, disc in the low back is putting pressure on a nerve root. There are two main discectomy procedures – laminotomy and discectomy or microdiscectomy. Compare your options below now!

Memisectomy
A meniscectomy is a medical procedure to remove all or part of a damaged meniscus in the knee or, if possible, to repair a meniscus. A meniscus is a piece of rubbery tissue (fibrocartilage) between the bones of the knee joint.

Open Laser Lumbar Microdiscectomy
Open laser lumbar microdiscectomy is the surgical technique that is a minimal invasive spinal surgery to preserve as much normal tissue as possible.

Open Laser Thoracic Microdiscectomy

Segmental Instrumentation
Spinal instrumentation is used with a posterior spinal fusion in the treatment of various spinal disorders. The instrumentation provides internal support to the spine while it is healing. Your surgeon will decide if you will need the support of a cast or brace after the surgery. Instrumentations can by luque-rod or pedicle screw.

Spinal Decompression
The spine is a complicated part of the anatomy that is made up of the vertebrae, discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments and of course the spinal cord. Many different nerves and nerve roots stem from the spinal cords which are susceptible to damage; they can also become compressed by the anatomy that surrounds them. The process to fix trapped nerves in your back and alleviate the pain is known as spinal decompression.

Spinal Deformity Correction
You can be born with spinal defects that cause the spine to grow unevenly where as some patients have nerve or muscle diseases, injuries or other illnesses that cause spinal deformities. The surgery is usually a solid fusion of the curved part of the spine. To assist in the process, metal rods, braces and other instruments are used until your fusion has a chance to fully heal keeping the shape. Once the abnormal part of the spine has been fused and healed it can move no more.

Spinal Fusion Surgery
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure to correct bone problems of the spine by ‘fusing’ together two or more vertebrae. Suitable patients include those who suffer from severe pain, scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and degenerative disc disease – as well as damage through injury and other medical conditions.

Spinal Stenosis
Stenosis means narrowing of the channels in the spine where the nerves run. The pressure on the nerves makes it feel as if the pain is coming from your legs. In removing the protrusion that has caused the narrowing and resulting nerve pressures the space is made larger and nerves become decompressed.

Spinal Tumorectomy

Subacromial Decompression
The subacromial impingement (Decompression) syndrome is a condition where one of the rotator muscles running over the shoulder joint is trapped between the shoulder blade and the shoulder joint. The operation aims to increase the size of the subacromial area and reduce the pressure on the muscle. Surgery is normally performed as a keyhole procedure (arthroscopic) but occasionally an open procedure is preferred.

Total Disc Replacement
Total disc replacement (TDR) is an established new technology in which worn discs in the spine are replaced by metal and plastic implants. The operation normally takes about two hours for a single level disc replacement and about three and a half hours if two discs are being replaced.

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty is an injection of acrylic bone cement into the vertebral body relieving pain and/or stabilising the fractured vertebrae. In some cases this can restore vertebral height. It is a typically outpatient procedure (no hospitalization, no surgery) and requires only a local anaesthetic.

Check the Thailand Medical forum for more details.