Surgery

• You will typically have an IV placed in your arm or hand for the delivery of general anesthesia to put you to sleep and prevent pain during your surgery.

• Your surgical team will usually consist of surgical assistant, scrub technician, several nurses. There may also be an implant representative in the room, but they will not be scrubbed into surgery

• The patient will be positioned on the table according to the surgical plan (anterior, posterior, or lateral)

• The surgeon will surgically remove the compression on the nerves/spinal cord. If it is a fusion, they will reconstruct and stabilize the spine using screws, rods, inter body devices, and bone graft. The bone graft may be from the patient, a bone bank, or synthetic. The screws and rods stabilize the spine as the bones heal.

• The incision is then closed with staples or sutures. If steri strips are placed, then let the steri strips fall off themselves, please do not remove them

• You will then be taken to a recovery area for close monitoring until you awaken. You will still have your IV, and may have a urinary catheter. You may also have a sore throat from intubation. When you are fully alert and awake, you will then be returned to your hospital room. This process from the end of surgery until you are in your room may take a couple of hours.

Risks Discussed in Clinic

• Patient’s health history as it impacts potential healing

• Infection

• Bleeding

• Nerve injury

• Dural tear

• Anesthesia risks

• Pseudoarthrosis

• Adjacent segment disease

• Blood clots

• Return of symptoms

After the Procedure

Activity Restriction  - Depending on the surgery, there will be activity restrictions including bending, lifting, and twisting. You will have to be mindful of body motions as we will discuss in clinic.

It is important to refrain from smoking as this may significantly impair the healing process. Driving and return to work may be delayed for some time after surgery. This will be discussed in clinic.

Pain Management - Post-procedural pain is a significant part of the surgical process. We will work together to keep this under control, but it is important to understand that every patient tolerates pain differently, and the pain may last days to weeks to subside.

Take your prescribed pain medication as recommended, and call your care team inadequate. It is normal to feel some degree of pain during the recovery process, but we want you to be comfortable

Incision Care- Dressings may be removed about 72 hours after surgery, and incisions should be washed with soap and water, and patted dry. Do NOT soak the incision site; baths, hot tubs, and pools should be avoided for up to 3 weeks until the wounds have fully healed. Discuss this with the surgeon.

The incision may have staples or sutures. If steri strips are placed, then let the steri strips fall off themselves, please do not remove them

General Recovery -Most patients are discharged from the hospital within the first few days of surgery. Discharge may be home or to a rehab facility, depending on the needs of the patient.

Typically patients are up the day of or the day after surgery. It is important to remember the physical therapy tips and tricks and to minimize bending, lifting, and twisting.

Return to activity and work will be discussed with the surgeon at your postoperative visit. During this visit, x-rays may be taken to evaluate the spine.

As patients feel better in the first few weeks, overexertion is common and may result in another spike in pain.

By 12 weeks, the expectation is to return to most normal activities with significantly improved symptoms compared to before surgery.