Spine Surgery Part 2

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The spinal column consists of 33 small bones which are united by a set of ligaments and held in its position by back muscles. It helps us to stand erect, transfers the body weight to the pelvis and provides cover to the spinal cord.

Be it open surgery or MISS, the spine can be accessed from different directions. 

Before we talk about the various surgical approaches, we must know how Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and intraoperative fluoroscopy (real-time x-rays) are useful, these enable surgeons to operate with a high-level of accuracy and safety.


Some of the surgical approaches based on directions are explained below-

  1. Anterior approach: As the name suggests, the surgeon accesses the spine from the front of your body, through the abdomen. 

  2. Posterior approach: incision is made in the back

  3. Lateral approach: The pathway is made on the side.


The most common procedures for spinal surgery are-

  1. Discectomy or Microdiscectomy:  Refers to the removal of a herniated intervertebral disc, thus removing pressure from compressed nerves. The latter one is a MISS procedure.

  2. Laminectomy: It is the removal of the thin bony plate on the back of the vertebra called the laminae to increase space within the spinal canal and relieve pressure.

  3. Laminotomy: It refers to the removal of a portion of the vertebral arch (lamina) that covers the spinal cord. This procedure removes less bone than a laminectomy.

Both Laminotomy and Laminectomy are “decompression” procedures, which usually means tissue compressing a spinal nerve is removed.

  1. Foraminotomy:  In this, bone or tissue is removed atr/in the the passageway (known as neuroforamen) where nerve roots branch off the spinal cord and exit the spinal column.

  2. Disc Replacement: This is an alternative to fusion, in which the injured disc is replaced with an artificial one.




Our spinal cord is a nervous column that carries nerves to all parts of the body from the brain. It is like a big control system that accounts for our very being, thus making it quite important to find the right treatment and be as cautious as one can be with the care.


A senior neurosurgeon of international repute with excellent management skills and one of the Best Neurosurgeons in Kolkata, Dr. Kaushik Sil has over 16 years of experience in treating complex Brain and Spine problems like brain tumours, spinal disc prolapse, brain stroke, subdural hematoma, spinal deformity with a special interest in childhood neurosurgical problems like hydrocephalus and spinal birth defects. His simple guidance and high success in treatment rates is immaculate.

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