Services / Spinal Surgery

Spinal surgery is not usually the first course of treatment for back or neck pain. But if nonsurgical treatments, like medication, injections, and physical therapy, fail to help you find relief, the team at Cascade Orthopaedics, in Auburn, Washington, may recommend traditional or minimally invasive spinal surgery to help restore your function and quality of life. To learn more, call the office to set up an appointment or use the online booking agent to get started.

When should I consider spinal surgery to resolve pain?

Spinal surgery may be appropriate in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar disorders. If nonsurgical treatments are ineffective in helping you find relief and return to work or daily activities, your doctor may recommend surgery. This is especially true if you have a condition that just can’t be resolved otherwise, like spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.

The type of spinal surgery you need depends on your condition, the location of your pain, and its cause. The Cascade Orthopaedics team performs minimally invasive procedures using small incisions and tiny instruments whenever possible. 

Minimally invasive surgery causes less damage to the tissue surrounding the spine and less blood loss. You recover faster and have less risk of complication than traditional, open approaches. 

What types of conditions require spinal surgery?

Spinal surgery may be a solution for persistent pain from conditions like:

• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Lumbar or cervical spinal stenosis
• Spinal instability, including spondylolisthesis
• Vertebral compression fractures
• Spinal tumors
• Spinal deformities, like scoliosis

Before recommending spinal surgery, your doctor thoroughly evaluates your case and educates you on all of your treatment options.

What are the types of spinal surgery?There are dozens of types of spinal surgery. The type you need depends on your particular condition. Cascade Orthopaedics most commonly recommends:

Lumbar fusion

Lumbar fusion involves fusing together two or more vertebrae in the lower back. The fusion creates a more stable, single block of bone using bone grafts or implants. Lumbar fusion can resolve back pain that develops due to compressed nerves in your spine that result from a herniated disc or other squeezing pressure.

Cervical fusion

If you have neck pain and subsequent pain in your shoulders and arms due to cervical dysfunction, Cascade Orthopaedics may recommend cervical fusion. The surgery permanently connects vertebrae in the upper spine — the cervical region. Bone grafts eliminate space between the bones to create one solid bone unit and eliminate pain. 

Spinal disc replacement

A spinal disc replacement is used for degenerated or damaged discs. Your discs are cushion-like pads that sit between each vertebra in your spine. Your discs allow for movements like forward folding, side bending, and twisting and absorb shock.

The experienced orthopaedic team replaces damaged discs with an artificial disc so you can return to normal function without pain. The replacement discs consist of biopolymer (a plastic-like material) and metal. These materials are safe and approved by the FDA.

Find out more about spinal surgery and how it can help you find relief from persistent back pain and dysfunction. Call Cascade Orthopaedics to schedule your appointment, or use this website to reach out online.