Advanced Surgical Treatments For Spine Injuries Attorneys And Their Clients Should Be Aware Of
A personal injury attorney that represents clients who have suffered spine injures has a duty to inform his or her clients of the latest advances in surgical spinal treatments. Surgical treatments for spinal care have drastically improved patient recovery time, effectiveness and pain reduction and new approaches to spinal treatment are continuing to develop.
A personal injury attorney should take the time to speak with surgeons in their area to gain an understanding of these new treatments and how they may relate to their clients.
The new approaches to spinal surgery are all minimally invasive. And even make use of advance d tools such as robotics to more accurately place medical devices and reduce radiation exposure for all in the operating room.
Radio Frequency Nerve Denervation
Radio Frequency Thermocoagulation also called Rhizotomey, is a minimally-invasive surgical treatment that only requires a very small incision about the size of large needle. The procedure involves locating the nerve causing pain problems along the spine and then deadening the nerve to stop the pain. New tools that can safely burned away using high intensity RF waves for nerves that are on painful joints. By blocking the nerve the pain is stopped. The procedure will block the nerve for up to 18 teen months. The procedure involves the surgeon locating the target nerves then inserting a needle-like device to within 2mm of the target nerve. The device then applies the highly targeted radio frequency waves to the target nerve which has the effect of blocking it. The surgeon must be highly accurate and only affect the correct nerves or paralysis could occur. To aid in this procedure the patients must remain awake to provide feedback to the surgeon – local anesthetic is applied. Only a very small amount of current is needed and and area of just 2mm is affected by the device.
Endoscopic Tubular Spine Surgery
Minimally Invasive spine surgery or Endoscopic Lumbar Surgery involves very small incisions to use Endoscopic Cameras and other very small interments to directly access the painful region and remove only the portion of the disk that is putting pressure on the nerve and causing pain. Discetomy Fusion is one such procedure
Personal injury attorneys must understand these procedures, speak with surgeons who can inform when these procedures will apply for your clients.
Robotic Back Surgery
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Utilizing the Mazor Robotic System
Use of the Mazor Robot reduces the amount of radiation in the operating room, and is able to place pedicle screws more accurately. Use of the robot also allows surgeons to treat larger deformations of the spine including curves and other conditions in a safe manner. Use of the robot opened up minimally invasive surgery to thoracic lumbar deformity. The effect of these recent and dramatic advances is that there is no longer a need to open, invasive surgeries for spinal treatments.
Advising your clients of options in spinal care and informing your client on who in your area uses these minimally invasive techniques in their practice to help them make an informed decision.
