Spinal Anatomy & Surgery Specifics Thank you for choosing the Spine Center at The Miriam Hospital for your spine surgery. You are taking a big leap toward improving your health and well-being, and we are here for you through every part of it. Your surgeon is here to correct the problem that is limiting your functional abilities, and we are here to empower you to maximize and maintain a pain-free lifestyle. In this packet you will find information related to your specific surgery, and everything you need to know about the surgical process and your recovery. You can feel free to call the Spine Center at any time if you have any questions related to the material in this packet, and we will answer to the best of our ability or direct you to someone who can. You can find our phone number at the bottom of every page in this packet. We realize that some of this information may be new to you, so we have included a Glossary of Terms on the inside left cover of your folder to help you navigate this information with ease. We look forward to helping you achieve the best possible outcomes throughout this journey. SPINAL ANATOMY Your spine is made up of 26 bones called vertebrae - 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (mid back), 5 lumbar (low back), the sacrum (scoop-shaped bone at the base of the spine) and the coccyx (tailbone). Almost all bones in the spine are separated by a disc that has a soft, jelly-like center that is surrounded by a tough outer layer of fibers. The spine is stabilized (held together) by these discs, along with bony structures, ligaments, and strong muscles. The spinal cord passes through the bony spine and is composed of nerves that lead to and from the brain. The spinal cord controls all muscle movement and sensation for the entire body. Nerve “roots” come from the spinal cord and exit through holes in the bony spine. These nerve roots turn into nerves as they extend from the spine. These nerves carry electrical impulses to and from muscles, organs, and other structures in the body. These nerve roots can become pinched or irritated by certain spine conditions. SPINAL DECOMPRESSION SURGERY Spinal decompression is a term that includes several different surgeries that all have the same goal – to relieve the symptoms of spinal nerve compression. When the nerves of your spine are “compressed,” it means that there is pressure on the spinal cord or nerves that exit the spinal cord that work to help us move and feel in our trunk and limbs. These spinal nerves are bundles of nerves that branch off the spinal cord and exit between two vertebrae (spinal bones). Symptoms of spinal nerve compression include pain, numbness, tingling and weakness. Spinal nerve compression can be caused by arthritis, disc problems, injuries and tumors. Your surgeon will recommend surgery based on the cause of the problem, if other types of treatments and therapies have failed to relieve your symptoms. Types of spine decompression surgery include: ⊲ Discectomy: removal of part or all of a spinal disc ⊲ Foraminotomy: surgery to widen the opening where a nerve root leaves the spinal cord ⊲ Laminectomy/laminotomy: surgery to remove part or most of a bony area that makes up the back of each vertebra to remove pressure on the nerves ⊲ Laminoplasty: surgery to open the lamina (back part of the spinal bone), rather than removing it, to allow for more room in the canal where the spinal cord and nerves lay ⊲ Osteophyte removal: removal of bone spurs Spinal Anatomy & Surgery Specifics | Spine Program at The Miriam Hospital | 401-793-2435
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