There are many reasons why you might continue to have pain or other symptoms following spine surgery. When your problems persist, revision surgery may be your best treatment option for correcting the problem and alleviating the pain. At American Neurospine Institute, PLLC, Ripul Panchal, DO, is one of the few neurological surgeons in North Texas performing revision surgeries. If you continue to struggle with back or neck pain and limited mobility, call the office in Frisco, Texas, or schedule an appointment online.
Revision Surgery Q & A
What is revision surgery?
Revision surgery is a procedure to correct or repair problems that persist after a previous spine surgery. To ensure you achieve the best results from revision surgery, Dr. Panchal takes extra time to review your medical records and evaluate your current health and symptoms. Then he talks with you about the recommended procedure, including all the risks, benefits, and any options that may be available.
When might I need revision surgery?
Needing revision surgery doesn’t always mean that something went wrong during your prior surgery. However, spinal problems can develop due to earlier treatments, a condition called iatrogenic disease.
These are a few of the reasons you may need revision spine surgery:
Adjacent level disease
Adjacent level disease refers to degeneration that develops at the vertebral joints adjacent to the site of your earlier surgery. This problem may be caused by ongoing natural degeneration or mechanical changes in the spine following the first surgery.
Progressive deformities
You may develop new symptoms when a spinal condition continues to get worse, even if the initial surgical procedure was effective.
Pseudarthrosis
Following a vertebral bone fusion, your bones may not fuse or heal properly, a problem called pseudarthrosis.
Failed back surgery syndrome
Some patients continue to have back, neck, or leg pain after back surgery. Failed back surgery syndrome may be caused by many possible problems, including complications such as a postsurgical infection or scarring that prevent healing.
Recurring conditions
You may develop another disc herniation or redevelop spinal stenosis at the previously treated level or an adjacent level.
Loose instrumentation
Screws, plates, and other instruments used to repair or stabilize your spine may become loose, possibly due to problems that affect healing, such as osteoporosis or the formation of fluid-filled sacs around screws.
What are reconstructive and realignment surgery?
Spinal reconstructive surgery is performed to correct a spinal deformity or misalignment that affects more than one level of the spine. Many procedures and techniques may be used during reconstructive surgery.
Depending on the underlying condition, Dr. Panchal may remove part or all of certain vertebrae, perform a bone fusion or disc replacement, and/or insert rods and pins to restore the spine. Spinal realignment surgery is often done to repair a flatback deformity, which occurs when the lower spine loses its natural curvature.
If you still have pain or other symptoms following spine surgery, call American Neurospine Institute or schedule an appointment online.