Lumbar Conditions in Carmel, IN Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

A lumbar microdiscectomy is a procedure used primarily to relieve pressure on a spinal nerve caused by a herniated disc. It is not a treatment for every case of degenerative disc disease, but it may be appropriate when disc degeneration has resulted in a herniation that irritates or compresses a nerve.

​During a microdiscectomy, Dr. Swiatek removes the part of the disc pressing on the nerve and preserves as much healthy tissue as possible.

The goal is to relieve pressure on the nerve and improve symptoms like leg pain, numbness, or weakness. Microdiscectomy is considered if symptoms do not improve with conservative treatment or if there are serious nerve symptoms.

A lumbar laminectomy is a decompression procedure designed to create additional space for the spinal nerves.

​The lamina is part of the back of a vertebra. During a laminectomy, the surgeon removes some of this bone, and sometimes other structures, to relieve pressure on the spinal canal or nerve roots.​

A laminectomy may be recommended if degenerative disc changes happen along with spinal stenosis or other nerve compression.

Posterior lumbar decompression and fusion (PLDF) has two goals: to relieve pressure on nerves and to stabilize the spine.

During decompression, Dr. Swiatek removes anything narrowing the space around the nerves. For the fusion, he stabilizes the affected vertebrae using bone grafts and hardware like screws and rods.​

PLDF may be the right choice if degenerative disc disease comes with spinal instability, severe narrowing, deformity, or other changes that make decompression alone less effective.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a type of spinal fusion in which the surgeon reaches the disc space from the back and slightly from the side.

​During TLIF, the surgeon removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an implant. A bone graft is added to help the vertebrae fuse together. Screws and rods may be used to keep the spine stable while it heals.

TLIF may be recommended if degenerative disc disease causes painful disc changes, instability, nerve compression, or other problems that need stabilization.

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is a procedure where the surgeon reaches the lumbar spine from the side instead of the front or back. Other names for this procedure include DLIF, XLIF, and PTP lateral surgery.

The surgeon removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an implant to restore disc height and stabilize the spine. Restoring disc height can also help create more space around compressed nerves for some patients.

LLIF may be used for some types of lumbar degeneration, deformity, or instability. However, this side approach is not right for every spinal level or every patient.

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a procedure where the surgeon reaches the lumbar spine from the front of the body.

​During ALIF, the surgeon removes the damaged disc and replaces it with an implant. This can restore disc height and stabilize the spine, while a bone graft helps the bones fuse together.​

One advantage of the anterior approach is that it lets the surgeon reach the disc space without going through the muscles and tissues at the back of the spine. ALIF may be used for some types of disc degeneration, spinal instability, deformity, or other conditions.

A corpectomy is a more involved spinal decompression surgery where part or all of a vertebral body and nearby disc spaces are removed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.

This procedure is for more complex spinal problems, not routine degenerative disc disease. It may be needed if there is severe compression that cannot be fixed with a simpler surgery or if there is major damage to the vertebral body.

After removing the damaged bone and disc material, the area is rebuilt and stabilized with implants and hardware.