Bone spur surgery may sound alarming if you are not familiar with the process. In fact, many people believe bone spur surgery is more complicated than what can actually be involved with the procedure. By researching what you can expect from this type of surgery and reading the information in the following article, you can feel confident about the decision you have made for the next step in your bone spur treatment.

Treatments recommended before bone spur surgery

Before bone spur surgery is recommended, a patient usually has to go through a course of conservative treatment in an attempt to find pain relief. For many patients, these nonsurgical therapies are effective at relieving the pain and symptoms caused by a bone spur and there is no need for surgery.

Some of the common methods of conservative treatment used to treat a bone spur include:

• Pain medication
• Physical therapy
• Stretching exercises
• Chiropractic care
• Low-impact exercises
• Weight management
• Hot and cold compresses
• Corticosteroid injections

Typically, these treatments provide significant pain reduction within several weeks or months. However, if you continue suffering from chronic pain after undergoing conservative treatment, bone spur surgery may be recommended to help you get back to your daily activities.

There are two main types of bone spur surgery — traditional open back surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. Your doctor can explain to you the potential risks and benefits of both options so you can make an informed decision about your spine care needs.

Traditional open spine bone spur surgery

Patients who choose a traditional open spine method for bone spur surgery may face a two- to five-day hospital stay as well as an increased risk of infection compared to minimally invasive spine surgery. Traditional bone spur surgery begins with a large incision between 6 to 8 inches in the neck or back, often cutting and sometimes altogether detaching the large muscles surrounding the spine.

Once the spine is reached, the bone spur is removed in order to decompress the pinched nerve and the incision is closed. This highly invasive approach to the spine can increase a patient’s risk for complications, such as excessive blood loss and potential nerve damage, which can lead to failed back surgery syndrome.

Minimally invasive bone spur surgery

At USA Spine Care, we offer a minimally invasive alternative to traditional bone spur surgery. Instead of using highly invasive techniques to access the spine, our board-certified surgeons+ use a less than 1-inch incision, which spares important muscles surrounding the spine. Once the spine is reached, the bone spur is removed and the pressure on the pinched nerve is released. Contact USA Spine Care today to learn more about our available treatments for bone spur surgery.

Our procedures offer a safer and effective alternative to traditional open spine surgery, by offering no lengthy recovery and less surgical blood loss as well as a minimal risk of complication and infection.^ Since 2005, we have helped more than 75,000 patients find relief from chronic neck and back pain with our minimally invasive spine surgery. To find out if you are a candidate for our bone spur procedures, reach out to USA Spine Care today and request a no-cost MRI review from our team.