Hype Debunked

"Laser Spine Surgery" is misleading language used in promotional material from other centers, when in fact some of them do a very traumatic access operation requiring a sizeable opening, stretching and tearing muscle, drilling and cutting out bone, ligament and joint also. The bone, ligament and joint removed is typically completely normal and doing an important job in the spine. Removing it causes permanent damage and may cause permanent symptoms due to this damage (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome). After doing this type of damaging opening, laser is of no benefit. If it is used at all, it would be just in order to call it "Laser Surgery". Laser does not actually do very much in the spine and therefore is only rarely needed in any spine procedure.

Example of Laser nerve damage done ELSEWHERE

Information from Reliable Sources

(1) NASS defines the following: "Open discectomy" done through "an approximately one-inch incision" is the most common surgical treatment for ruptured or herniated discs of the lumbar spine.

(2) Mayo Clinic, Dr. Gordon Deen says: "We don't use or recommend laser spine surgery"

(4) Discovery Health says: "None of the most recognized health authorities in the United States, or elsewhere, endorse laser spine surgery."

(4) Bloomberg News says: "Results of laser spine surgery are not as advertised. The number of malpractice suits is higher than expected for the volume of work."

Want to know more about LASER use in the SPINE?

Go to google and search for: - LASER use in the SPINE BLOOMBERG

"Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery" - This is what every spine surgeon claims to do. Exactly how small is it? Most so called "minimally invasive spine surgery" is actually very traumatic and damaging, from our perspective. The problem is that "minimally invasive" "has become a trite phrase that has lost its meaning and is used by different authors to describe totally different things" Ref.(1). Is it bigger than your fingernail, smaller than your fist? There is no specific or standard meaning.

"Micro-discectomy" - a misnomer which sounds small. Actually it is a traumatic access operation requiring a sizeable opening, cutting muscle and typically drilling and cutting bone and joint also. A microscope is a large device located outside of the body and requires a traumatic opening, large enough to see inside.

"Endoscopic" is also misleading language used in promotional material from other centers, when in fact some of them do a very traumatic access operation requiring a sizeable opening, stretching and tearing muscle, drilling and cutting out bone, ligament and joint also. The bone, ligament and joint removed is typically completely normal and doing an important job in the spine. Removing it causes permanent damage and may cause permanent symptoms due to this damage (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome).

"Instead of Open Surgery" - can be very misleading language used in promotional material from other centers, when in fact some of them do a very traumatic access sizeable opening, stretching and tearing muscle, drilling and cutting out bone, ligament and commonly joint also. The bone, ligament and joint removed is typically completely normal and doing an important job in the spine. Removing it causes permanent injury and may cause permanent symptoms due to this trauma (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome). After doing this type of damage, to call it "instead of open surgery" is absurd. This deception is beyond HYPE.

References (1) Decision Making in Spinal Care - 1st Edition Thieme, 2007 - Our Book Chapter

What some other centers do?

(while incorrectly calling their operation one of the above names)
The spine model shown is exactly reconstructed from the CT scan shown below, after a Florida surgeon performed an operation drilling out and removing completely the wall of bone from the left side of the spine in this spot. The upper joint and surface of the joint was also completely removed.

This operation has created permanent and un-necessary damage to what was normal bone and joint. The patient will never heal or recover from this surgical trauma. Joint can not re-create itself.

There was nothing wrong with the bone or joint before the surgery. The patient only had a herniated disc problem, which could have been treated without trauma to the normal parts of the spine.

Reportedly the patient was deceived in that he went to Florida and had this operation after hearing about laser and arthroscopic surgery to treat his herniated disc. No laser was used in removing the bone. The herniated disc, (the only problem that needed treatment) was not touched, not treated at all and the patient was not helped at all by the surgery.

He was told that this was "instead of open surgery", when in fact it was "open surgery" with more bone and joint damage than most surgeons make with their open surgery.

ct scan
Front to Back View		 ct scan
Top Down View
 

Why Choose Back Institute Why Choose Back Institute

we perform the most advanced non traumatic procedures available with the most technologically advanced surgery tools and equipment. Some of our technology is only available at the Back Institute.

back institute on abc news New Surgical Technique

With a Non-Traumatic Discectomy at the Back Institute, there is no cutting, no bleeding and no scarring. Patients are left with only a dot opening that is covered with a band aid. Our surgery center has the highest level of certification.
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