Lateral Spine Surgery Miami

As per the reports of National Library of Medicine, approximately 80% of people are dealing with back pain at some point in their lives and 21.08% of people are suffering from spinal disorders. Lateral spine surgery, also known as lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), is a minimally invasive treatment of various spine issues. It is especially beneficial for degenerative disc disorder, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis. This procedure minimises damage to muscles and tissues, resulting in faster healing and less post-operative pain than standard surgeries.

If you are looking for the best lateral spine surgeon in Miami, you are at in the right place. Dr. Evan Trapana is an experienced and highly skilled lateral spine surgeon in Miami who treats spine disorders with both surgical and non-surgical procedures.

Understanding: Lateral Spine Surgery & How it Works?

Lateral spine surgery, also known as lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) or direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF), is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat various spinal conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis. This surgery involves accessing the spine from the side of the body rather than the front or back. The procedure offers advantages such as less muscle dissection, reduced blood loss, and quicker recovery times compared to traditional spine surgery.

Lateral spine surgery is a method that involves accessing the spine from the side of the body rather than the front or back. This surgery decreases muscle injury, lowers blood loss, speeds recovery, and reduces rare difficulties. The surgery is performed through a small incision between the ribs and hips, making it minimally intrusive and ideal for addressing various spine conditions.

This surgery is specifically used to treat different conditions such as:

• When the discs between the vertebrae break down, causing pain, immobility, and issues moving in the lower back.
• In this condition, the spinal canal narrows and puts pressure on the spinal cord, leading to pain, numbness, and weakness.
• This condition impacts an abnormal spine curve that can cause pain and affect the stance, especially in grown-ups.
• When a disc in the spine bulges or ruptures, pressing on nerves and causing pain, tingling, or weakness in the legs.

Conditions Treated with Lateral Spine Surgery

• Degenerative Disc Disease: The breakdown of intervertebral discs, causing pain and stiffness in the lower back and affecting mobility.
• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal, leading to pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, resulting in pain, weakness, and numbness.
• Scoliosis: Abnormal curvature of the spine, which can cause pain and affect posture, especially in adults.
• Herniated Discs: When a disc in the spine bulges or ruptures, placing pressure on nerves and causing pain, tingling, or weakness in the legs.

Why Consider Lateral Spine Surgery?

The primary benefit of lateral spine surgery is that it is minimally invasive. It causes less damage to muscles and tissues, making it a strong choice for those who want quicker recovery. Lateral spine surgery offers many benefits:

• Less Muscle Disruption: Accessing the spine from the side causes less damage to muscles and tissues.
• Reduced Blood Loss: The minimally invasive method decreases the chance of extra bleeding during surgery.
• Faster Recovery: With less tissue harm, patients normally feel less pain and can return to their routine faster.
• Smaller Incisions and Scarring: The small incision results in smaller scars, making it a more aesthetically satisfying choice.
• Effectiveness for Hard-to-reach Areas: This approach provides access to parts of the spine that are difficult to reach with traditional surgical methods.

Procedure of Lateral Spine Surgery:

Lateral spine surgery has some key steps that are performed with accuracy by a professional surgeon like Dr. Evan –

• Incision: A tiny incision is created on the side of the body, typically between the ribs and pelvis, to access the spine.
• Muscle Dissection: Rather than incision through muscles, they are gently moved aside to decrease damage.
• Spinal Repair: After accessing the spine, the injured disc or vertebra is either terminated or healed. An interbody cage is placed to restore the height of the vertebrae.
• Fusion: In some cases, the vertebrae may be combined for stability using rods, screws, or other devices.
• Recovery: Recovery from lateral spine surgery is usually rapid, with multiple patients able to return to light movements within a few weeks because of less pain and quicker healing.

Risks and Considerations with Lateral Spine Surgery:

Like other surgeries, lateral spine surgery carries some risks, but these are less frequent than standard spine surgeries because of their minimally invasive nature. Some possible risks are –

• As with any surgery, there is a possible chance of infection at the incision site.
• There is a possible chance of harm to nearby nerves, blood vessels, or organs.
• Blood clots or extreme bleeding can occur during or after surgery.
• Sometimes, the surgery may not fully relieve signs, or spinal problems may return.
• Because of the closeness of the nerves to the vertebrae, there is a small risk of nerve damage during the surgery.

Recovery After Lateral Spine Surgery:

One of the greatest benefits of lateral spine surgery is fast recovery. Thanks to the minimally invasive nature of the process, patients typically experience:

• Postoperative pain is greatly decreased, allowing for a more comfortable recovery.
• Many patients can leave the hospital on the same day or within a day or 2 of surgery.
• Many patients can return to normal activities within a few weeks, with full recovery occurring in a few months.

Benefits of Lateral Spine Surgery

• Minimizes muscle disruption due to access from the side, leading to quicker recovery.
• Reduced risk of blood loss and lower complication rates compared to traditional open surgery.
• Less postoperative pain, allowing patients to resume normal activities sooner.
• Smaller incisions and less scarring due to the minimally invasive nature of the procedure.
• Effective for treating conditions that may not be accessible via traditional anterior or posterior approaches.

Are You a Candidate for Lateral Spine Surgery?

Lateral spine surgery is not suitable for everyone, so it is necessary to have an accurate discussion with a spine specialist. Your surgeon will consider your condition to see if this surgery is perfect for you or not. Maybe it is especially beneficial if you have degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or scoliosis and have not found relief from treatments like physical therapy or medicines.

Why is Dr. Evan Trapana the Best Choice For Lateral Spine Surgery Miami, FL?

Dr. Evan Trapana, MD, completed his Spine Surgery training at the University of California San Diego Medical Center in 2023. He is popularly known as one of the best lateral spine surgeons in Miami, South Florida. Dr. Trapana and his team are dedicated to providing complete care for patients with spine-related diseases.

Contact Information:

If you want to have a consultation with Dr. Evan Trapana, then you can visit our clinic in Miami or contact us through the following information:

Address: UHealth Tower
1400 NW 12th Ave.Suite 2 Miami FL 33136.
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
1475 NW 12th Ave
1st Floor OPD1 Miami Fl 33136.
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (EST)
Phone: 305-689-4869, 305-243-3000.

FAQS for Lateral Spine Surgery Miami

Question. What is the eligibility criteria for lateral spine surgery?

Answer. People who have degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or scoliosis are not relieved by conservative treatments and are eligible contenders for lateral spine surgery.

Question. What are the possible risks associated with Lateral Spine Surgery?

Answer. The possible risks associated with this surgery are:

• Infection
• Nerve damage
• Blood clots
• Incomplete symptom relief, etc.

Question. Why is lateral spine surgery different from traditional spine surgery?

Answer. Lateral spine surgery has smaller incisions and less disruption to muscles, leading to decreased blood loss, lower postoperative pain, and quicker recovery compared to normal spine surgeries.

Question. Why should we pick Dr. Evan Trapana for our lateral spine surgery?

Answer. Dr. Evan Trapana is a leading spine surgery expert with vast expertise in minimally invasive surgeries. He is popularly known for his commitment to treating people suffering from spinal disorders.