For patients who have been diagnosed with foraminal stenosis, the narrowing of the foramen, there are a number of treatment options available. Usually, doctors recommend that patients begin addressing their symptoms using conservative treatments, such as physical therapy and pain medications. These approaches are typically successful at providing some degree of relief. In the rare cases that these options don’t work, surgery may be recommended. If this is the case for you, contact USA Spine Care to learn about the benefits of our minimally invasive procedures in treating foraminal stenosis.

At USA Spine Care, our board-certified surgeons+ perform several outpatient procedures that can address the underlying cause of the stenosis and in turn the debilitating symptoms. Depending on what is causing the foraminal stenosis and depending on how serious the condition is, the surgeons at USA Spine Care can use different minimally invasive procedures to treat the condition. Read the following article to learn whether a minimally invasive discectomy or stabilization procedure is best suited for your condition.

Minimally invasive decompression

The narrowing of a foramen can compress on the nerve roots that run through these canals, causing pain and other symptoms. One of the procedures commonly utilized to address this issue is the foraminotomy, which is a minimally invasive decompression that involves using a less than 1-inch incision to clear the spinal foramen of extraneous tissue and debris. By widening the foramen and relieving the source of compression placed on nerve roots, whether it is a bone spur, thickened ligament or overgrown facet, this procedure can eliminate the pain, weakness or numbness that this pressure can cause. Our minimally invasive decompression procedures allow 81 percent of our patients to return to work within three months after surgery.^

Minimally invasive stabilization

Another USA Spine Care procedure that could address foraminal stenosis is minimally invasive stabilization. Intended for patients with more advanced foraminal stenosis, this procedure includes the removal of spinal discs and subsequent fusion of the adjacent vertebrae. This approach uses a small incision to relieve symptoms when a herniated disc is obstructing the foramen and interfering with the nerve roots running through it. Our fusion procedures can be performed in different areas of the spine, depending on where the affected disc is located. Our minimally invasive stabilization procedures allow 70 percent of our patients to return to work within three months after surgery.^

Learn more about minimally invasive foraminal stenosis surgery

USA Spine Care is the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery and has helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from chronic neck or back pain. Reach out to us today with any questions or concerns you may have about our foraminal stenosis procedures and to receive a no-cost MRI review or CT scan review.* Our dedicated team can evaluate your condition to see if you are a candidate for one of our minimally invasive spine surgery procedures.

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