Lumbar Spine Surgeries

When it comes to spine surgery, a lumbar spine surgical treatment is often a relief to your spine problems.

It comprises five vertebrae (spinal bones) designated L1 through L5. The biggest in the spine, these vertebrae (vertebral bodies), support the head and trunk. The L5 vertebra, for example, is responsible for distributing weight from the upper body to the legs through the sacrum and pelvis.

The spinal column rests securely on five naturally joined vertebrae in the sacrum. In addition, there are five bones in the sacrum, designated S1 through S5, though they are all fused. The hip is a common term for the pelvis, located in the lower abdomen.

There is a fundamental structure to the lumbar vertebrae:

• A vast, kidney-shaped bone, when seen from above, the vertebral body is known as
• A vertebra’s pedicles are horizontal cylinders of bone that stick out from the back.
• The bone that creates an arch behind a vertebral body is the lamina.
• Articulatory processes: Bony protrusions that rise and fall from the lamina
• joints with facets Articular processes have smooth cartilage-covered ends.

At the confluence of the pedicle and lamina, there are long, thin bony sideways projections known as transverse processes:

There is a fundamental structure to the lumbar vertebrae:

• A vast, kidney-shaped bone, when seen from above, the vertebral body is known as
• A vertebra’s pedicles are horizontal cylinders of bone that stick out from the back.
• The bone that creates an arch behind a vertebral body is the lamina.
• Articulatory processes: Bony protrusions that rise and fall from the lamina
• joints with facets Articular processes have smooth cartilage-covered ends.

At the confluence of the pedicle and lamina, there are long, thin bony sideways projections known as transverse processes:

Intervertebral discs

Intervertebral discs are found between each vertebral body. Discs are assigned sequential numbers based on their location inside the spine. For example, between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, the L4-L5 Disc is present. Discs in the lower back correspond to the kidney-shaped vertebral bodies and are the biggest in the spine.

On each Disc, you’ll find two sections: The annulus fibrosus is the outer layer of robust but flexible cartilage. To describe the jelly-like material inside the annulus, it is appropriate to name it the nucleus pulposus. Hydrostatic disc pressure is maintained mainly by the water content of the nucleus (balance).

Discs are used for two primary purposes:

• Intervertebral discs serve as shock absorbers for the spine.
• Provide movement between the vertebrae by acting as flexible pivots.

Lumbar Decompression

Decompression surgery is often done to alleviate discomfort caused by nerve root compression. Lumbar nerve root pressure may be caused by a herniated disc in the lower back or by a narrowing of the spinal canal. Sciatica or radiculopathy are common names for this kind of discomfort.

To alleviate the pinching of the nerve, a decompression procedure removes a tiny part of the bone above the nerve root and disc material beneath the nerve root. Microdiscectomy and laminectomy are the two most prevalent forms of decompression surgery.

An X-STOP, for example, is an alternative to a laminectomy for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who do not want to undergo surgery.

Lumbar Fusion

Lumbar fusions aim to alleviate discomfort in the lower back by fusing the spine’s vertebrae. Lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis are the most prevalent reasons for this surgery.

A problematic vertebral segment is fused using a bone transplant in a spinal fusion procedure, reducing joint discomfort. Spinal fusion may be accompanied by spinal surgical equipment (medical devices), bone transplant techniques, and a bone stimulator.

There are various surgical options for fusing the spine, including ALIF, PLIF, XLIF, TLIF, posterolateral gutter fusion, anterior/posterior fusion, and minimally invasive techniques.

Besides the preceding, decompression and spinal fusion may treat various lumbar spine diseases, such as infection and malignancies.

Dr Suresh Cheetkala is a renowned surgeon in Hyderabad. He provides spine surgery treatment in Hyderabad.