What is a facetectomy?
Facetectomy is an invasive surgery that is performed to alleviate the pressure on the backbone nerves. Nerve compression can cause significant radiant pain and mobility loss and surgery is often the only way to alleviate symptoms. The procedure involves exposing the affected vertebra and removal of one or both facet joints that wipe on the nerve. When performing experienced surgeons, facetectomy is a relatively low -ground surgery and most patients have excellent results.
Each vertebra contains two facet joints that allow the spine mobility. They help one bend forward, stand straight and turn left and right. The main causes of aspect problems are serious injuries to degenerative disorders related to age and age. If the cartilage tissue around the joints disrupts or tears, the bones can wipe and compress the basic nerves. The aim of facetectomy is to completely remove one or more aspects to maintain the functioning of the nerves.
Many diagnostics tests and non -invasive treatment are administered before considering facetectomy. X -rays are accepted to find incorrectly aligned aspects and unusual bone protrusions. In order to determine the exact point of nerve damage, a specialist in the fluorescent dye and the local anesthetic into the most painful area of the spine is injected. If the anesthetic alleviates the patient's pain, the X -rays are taken to find out exactly where the dye is. Facetectomy is necessary if physical therapy, thermal therapy and painkillers do not improve the patient's condition.
In most cases, the patient is given a general anesthetic before the facetectomic procedure. With the patient on his stomach, a small cut is made above the affected aspect and skin, muscle and binding tissue is held aside with clamps. The surgeon then uses a bone saw or drill to carefully cut part of an aspect that lies onthe peak of compressed nerves. The deeper part of the bone tissue called lamina can also be removed. After confirming that the nerve is undamaged, the surgical wound can be sewn and dressed.
patients usually have to stay in the hospital several days after the facetectomy so that doctors can monitor recovery. X -rays are also accepted to ensure that the spine is stable. Specialists help the patient stand, bend and walk easily and ask if nerve pain still exists. Most people instruct to get a few weeks of rest in bed before trying to return to physical activity. Subsequent sessions with physiotherapists and spine doctors are important in months after surgery to ensure complete recovery.