Category: Spine Disorders

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Considering a Laminectomy?  Well, What Is a Lamina Anyway?

The spine is a remarkable structure, providing support, flexibility, and protection to the body, and the nervous system in particular. The spine is basically a stack of bones, but each bone is composed of several parts. Among its many parts, the lamina is often overlooked but plays an important role in spinal anatomy and function. It also can be a source of some back problems.  Whether you’re curious about your spine’s mechanics or preparing for a medical procedure, understanding the lamina is a key part of understanding your spine.

What Is the Lamina?

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DO I HAVE ARTHRITIS?

Sorry to be blunt but yes, you do have arthritis. Everyone gets at least some arthritis if you live long enough, yet it often remains misunderstood and underestimated. It’s not just a disease of the elderly; it can strike at any age. And it can have a lasting impact on mobility, quality of life, and mental well-being. 

What is Arthritis?

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Bertolotti’s Syndrome: A Potentially Painful Anomaly of the Lower Spine

Bertolotti’s syndrome, a variant of a common spine condition called  lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is an interesting yet lesser-known anomaly affecting the lower spine. Named after the Italian physician Mario Bertolotti, this condition sheds light on the complexities of spinal anatomy and its impact on musculoskeletal health.

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THE CONE OF ECONOMY

Global Sagittal Balance

Some patients need fusions.

If you need a fusion, even a small one, it is important to consider how the fused segment will affect the balance of the spine. Once the spine is fused, it is relatively permanent. Therefore, if your spine is fused out of balance, you may more or less be out of balance forever.

Global sagittal balance is an important concept in spine surgery and can profoundly affect surgical outcomes, especially in spinal fusion procedures. Global sagittal balance refers to the alignment of the spine and pelvis in the sagittal plane, which is the plane that divides the body into left and right halves. In a healthy individual, the spine and pelvis are aligned to maintain a stable and efficient posture where the head is essentially centered over the hips and pelvis. However, when this alignment is disrupted, it can lead to various spinal disorders, including chronic pain and disability.

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SPINAL CORD STIMULATION

A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is an electronic device placed over the nerves in the spine. When activated, it generates small electric fields that block pain sensations from being transmitted up the spinal cord to the brain. Although the mechanisms by which it works are not fully understood, the stimulator seems to create interference so that pain signals coming from the spine are less noticeable. It can be thought of as similar to what happens why you try to hear what is said in a crowded, noisy room. It is much harder to understand and frequently words are missed or not heard at all.
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SACROILIAC (SI) JOINT DYSFUNCTION

Back pain is extremely common. More than 90% of people have back pain at some point. There are many possible causes for back pain, but one under appreciated source is the sacroiliac joint (SI joint).  It has been suggested that dysfunction of the SI joint is responsible for back pain 15-23% of the time.  As many as 40% of patients with previous lumbar fusions may have pain from the SI joint.

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