Revision Spinal Surgery

Many factors contribute to failed spine surgery, from errors in judgment to procedures that may not produce the desired outcomes. In some cases, it’s a surgical error. In others, it can be due to misdiagnosis, misinformation, patient behaviors, or other medical conditions that can contribute to a failed surgery. Some of the most common reasons for failed spinal surgery include: 

• A surgical error that causes damage at the site of the procedure 
• Scar tissue that forms in or around the spine
• The spine fails to fuse after spinal fusion surgery
• Hardware or spinal implant failures
• Adjacent segment disease
• Surgery performed at the wrong area of the spine
•  An intervertebral disc becomes herniated again
• Incorrect diagnosis
• General complications of surgery such as infection 

While it can be disheartening to think about undergoing revision spine surgery, it’s sometimes the best option to help relieve pain. If you experience any following symptoms after spinal surgery, you should consult your spinal doctor: 

• New or worsening nerve problems (shooting pain, numbness, or muscle weakness)
• Bladder or bowel dysfunction
• Cauda equina syndrome 
• Increased spinal instability or pseudoarthrosis 
• Spinal instrumentation that has broken or moved out of alignment
• An infection in the spine 

If you undergo revision spinal surgery, you can expect to go through an assessment and discuss your treatment options with a medical professional. Most doctors will recommend utilizing more conservative treatments, like medication and physical therapy, before suggesting spinal surgery.

The assessment process may involve physical exams, lab tests, imaging screenings, and other similar steps. If revision spinal surgery is deemed necessary, you may receive a referral to a surgeon who can perform the procedure for you. There are often only small incisions made in the affected area, meaning the recovery process is short, scarring is minimal, and pain can be reduced significantly. If you need additional assistance during recovery or to determine your treatment options, you can work with the team at NJ Spine & Orthopedic for help.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR REVISION SPINAL SURGERY?

Recovery from a revision spinal surgery varies depending upon the procedure needed to correct the previous surgery. These procedures will likely require a hospital stay for a few days. Generally, any recovery from a revision spine procedure will take anywhere from six weeks to three months for a full recovery. 

You may be eligible for this surgery if you have undergone a previous spinal procedure that did not adequately treat your symptoms. However, we recommend working with a medical provider before deciding to move forward with the procedure. Your medical practitioner can help you determine if this kind of treatment will treat your issues, discern if there are other problems that might need attention, and refer you to spinal specialists.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF UNDERGOING REVISION SPINAL SURGERY?

It can be extremely beneficial to undergo revision spinal surgery, especially if you want to reduce pain or reverse mistakes that other medical professionals have made during previous treatments. Many spinal surgeries are minimally invasive, so incisions are small, healing is fast, and scarring is minimal. This is also a great way to significantly reduce pain, discomfort, and the presence of other adverse symptoms.

There is very little risk of utilizing revision spinal surgery, as assessments are extremely accurate and tools are precise. This means that you are very likely to receive the appropriate treatment and adjacent areas of the body are unlikely to be affected by your procedure. It’s also extremely unlikely that your NJ Spine & Orthopedic practitioner will make surgical mistakes, including those that might lead to infection.

NJ Spine & Orthopedic Can Help Relieve Your Back Pain

Living with chronic back pain can be debilitating, making it difficult to complete daily tasks.  At NJ Spine & Orthopedic, we understand that everyone’s condition and pain are unique, which is why we combine advanced technology with a patient-centered approach to ensure our patients get the best possible outcomes.

Our medical team and expert spinal surgeons are dedicated to achieving the best results for every patient with the least invasive treatment possible, allowing you to return to your life as quickly as possible. Find pain relief at NJ Spine & Orthopedic. You can call (866) 272-9271 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.