A Foraminotomy, traditionally performed in a hospital setting, is normally a fairly invasive procedure that requires the repositioning of tissues and cutting of bone to alleviate pressure on the nerve. At Deuk Spine Institute, we have developed a method, Deuk Laser Disc Repair, for relieving pressure on nerves in the foramen that is not only minimally invasive, but requires zero bone cutting. In fact, our procedure is so effective that patients experience a fraction of the recovery time traditional Foraminotomy patients experience.
What is a Foraminotomy?
In traditional spine surgery settings, a Foraminotomy is a major open back surgery meant to treat Foraminal Narrowing which requires an incision the length of the desired operable area in order to access each vertebral level experiencing compression of the nerves. These nerves that run through the foramen become compressed when a disc bulges into the foraminal cavity or bone spurs narrow the passageway, resulting in neurological symptoms like numbness, tingling, weakness and pain. To relieve these symptoms, doctors often perform a Foraminotomy to remove pressure from the nerve in a narrowed foramen.
Often, patients visiting other spine surgery centers will undergo this procedure to relieve foraminal stenosis, but the required repositioning of tissues and cutting of bone to access the interior of the foramen is unnecessary and harmful.
Deuk Spine Institute’s Laser Formaminotomy is Different
This is where Deuk Spine Institute has found a solution. Ultimately, access to the material pinching the nerve, whether it be a herniated disc or bone spur causing spinal stenosis, is already possible without all of the collateral damage, so why do other doctors still perform the procedure this way? Short answer is that they cannot do what we are able to do with a laser.
At Deuk Spine Institute, a Foraminotomy means zero bone cutting and the shortest available recovery time. By creating a small incision, between 4mm-7mm, we are able to insert an endoscope into the spine and target the cause of inflammation and blockage in the foramen. Using a specially designed laser, we then use pulses of energy to remove disc herniations or bone spurs releasing the pressure on the previously pinched nerve. Using this method, we are able to allow our patients to heal naturally with minimal collateral damage and maximum speed of recovery.
How Long is Recovery?
With minimally invasive laser spine surgery at Deuk Spine Institute, we are able to get our patients back to their lives the same day as the procedure. In fact, most of our patients go back to work in less than 3 days. What is even better is Deuk Spine’s limited risk of complication. Most other spine surgery centers have an average risk of complication ranging anywhere from 5-20%. Deuk Spine patients who undergo our minimally invasive Deuk Laser Disc Repair find relief in knowing that we have a less than .5% complication rate. That means for every 100 people going to another surgeon, somewhere between 5 and 20 of them experience some form of complication. Whereas at Deuk Spine, not even one person in 100 is at risk for complication. Couple that with our proven 95% success rate of resolution of pain and it is easy to see why the modern alternative Deuk Laser Disc Repair is the best treatment available for foraminal stenosis.