Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction can be caused by too much motion, or too little, or by inflammation of the joint, located at the base of your spine. Whatever the cause, it can result in significant lower back pain, as well as severe discomfort in the pelvis, groin, or hip. An estimated 15% to 30% of all lower back pain originates in the SI joint. Among those affected are women who have experienced changes in the pelvis following pregnancy, children, as well as patients who have undergone a previous lumbar (lower back) spinal fusion surgery.

SI joint fusion surgery may be an option if you are experiencing these symptoms for several weeks or month and have not responded to nonsurgical treatment:

• You have significant low back, hip, or groin pain that impedes everyday function.
• You feel SI joint pain on one or both sides of your body. Typically, this pain is confined to the lower back and pelvis, but it may radiate downward along the back of your leg.
• You’re experiencing instability in the pelvis and lower back, causing pain or difficulty when you stand, walk, or move from sitting to standing or vice versa.
• You experience stiffness and limited mobility in the low back, hips, groin, or legs.
• The pain gets worse after sitting or standing for long periods of time, or after sleeping in a certain position.

At any age, the shape and size of our spinal canal can change. In some cases, the spine can progressively degenerate, especially in those over the age of 50. When the spinal canal in the lower back narrows, this is what is known as lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), and it can be quite painful as it squeezes and
irritates the nerves branching out from the spinal cord.

If you are diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis, there is a new, FDA-approved, minimally invasive treatment called Superion by Vertiflex that is designed with your safety and comfort in mind. Here’s how it works:

• During a simple, outpatient procedure, the Superion device is implanted through a small tube – about the size of a dime to reduce tissue damage and blood loss – and acts as an indirect decompression device.
• Thanks to its anatomic design – available in multiple sizes to accommodate each patient’s specific anatomy – Superion serves as an extension blocker, thereby relieving pressure on the affected nerves in the same way that relief is provided when you stand or sit. With its optimal fit, Superion preserves your spine’s anatomy and your ability to maintain motion.

Developed to provide a safe and effective alternative to aggressive laminectomy (removing a portion of the vertebrae). When conservative treatment fails, Superion has been clinically shown effective for up to 5 years, ensuring controlled movement and minimizing post-operative complications.

MILD is a safe procedure that can help patients with spinal stenosis stand and walk for longer periods of time with less pain. This outpatient procedure is performed through a vary small incision, does not require general anesthesia, implants or stitches. Average improvement at one year follow up has shown a dramatic increase in patients' ability to stand or walk and more than a 50% reduction in pain. To find out if a MILD procedure can help reduce your pain, consider making an appointment with the experts at SEPA Pain Management.