OUTPATIENT AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUES

• Laminotomy
• Discectomy
• Foraminotomy  
• Endoscopic Discectomy
• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion - (ACDF)
• Kyphoplasty

Laminotomy

At Laser Spinal Solutions, Dr. Ramsey uses minimally invasive techniques to unpinch the spinal nerves, without the need for typical general anesthesia.  This allows patients to go home frequently in 1-2 hours after surgery. 

A Laminotomy is used for the following:  spinal stenosis; pinched nerves; bone spurs; sciatica; herniated disc; arthritis of the spinal canal; bulging disc.

At the time of surgery, a patient is given IV sedation and local anesthesia.  A small incision is made (less than 20mm/less than 1 inch).  Dissection is performed by carefully splitting the spinal muscles down to the spine.  A small hole is made in the spine (lamina) and the underlying soft tissue (ligamentum flavum) is removed.  This allows access to the spinal nerves which can be unpinched by removing a small portion of the disc and/or underlying arthritis.  The laser is used in this process by precisely cutting the tissue to unpinch the nerves.  During the process, the patient is awake and comfortable and able to talk with the doctor.  Sometimes a few stitches are used to close the incision.  Because the patient does not require typical general anesthesia, a patient can frequently go home in 1-2 hours.  Before going home, the patient is given Dr. Ramsey’s personal cell phone number and encouraged to call if any questions or problems arise after they go home.  After arriving home, patients are encouraged to go for a long walk that afternoon (the same day of the surgery). 

Patients follow up with the clinical staff in 1-2 days.  Most people return back to work in 2-7 days.

Discectomy

At Laser Spinal Solutions, Dr. Ramsey uses minimally invasive techniques to unpinch the spinal nerves, without the need for typical general anesthesia.  This allows patients to go home frequently in 1-2 hours after surgery. 

A Discectomy is used for the following:  pinched nerves; herniated disc; bulging disc.
At the time of surgery, a patient is given IV sedation and local anesthesia.  A small incision is made (less than 20mm/less than 1 inch).  Dissection is performed by carefully splitting the spinal muscles down to the spine.  A small hole is made in the spine (lamina) and the underlying soft tissue (ligamentum flavum) is removed.  This allows access to the spinal nerves which can be unpinched by removing a small portion of the disc.  The laser is used in this process by precisely cutting the tissue to unpinch the nerves.  During the process, the patient is awake and comfortable and able to talk with the doctor.  Sometimes a few stitches are used to close the incision.  Because the patient does not require typical general anesthesia, a patient can frequently go home in 1-2 hours.  Before going home, the patient is given Dr. Ramsey’s personal cell phone number and encouraged to call if any questions or problems arise after they go home.  After arriving home, patients are encouraged to go for a long walk that afternoon (the same day of the surgery).  Patients follow up with the clinical staff in 1-2 days.  Most people return back to work in 2-7 days.

Foraminotomy 

A foraminotomy is usually for the neck for the following: pinched nerves – lower back and neck; bone spurs – low back and neck; sciatica; herniated disc – lower back and neck.

At Laser Spinal Solutions, Dr. Ramsey uses minimally invasive techniques to unpinch the spinal nerves, without the need for typical general anesthesia.  This allows patients to go home frequently in 1-2 hours after surgery. 

At the time of surgery, a patient is given IV sedation and local anesthesia.  A small incision is made (less than 20mm/less than 1 inch).  Dissection is performed by carefully splitting the spinal muscles down to the spine.  A small hole is made in the spine (lamina) and the underlying soft tissue (ligamentum flavum) is removed.  This allows access to the spinal nerves which can be unpinched by removing a small portion of the bone and any excision bone spurs.   The laser is used in this process by precisely cutting the tissue to unpinch the nerves.  During the process, the patient is awake and comfortable and able to talk with the doctor.  Sometimes a few stitches are used to close the incision.  Because the patient does not require typical general anesthesia, a patient can frequently go home in 1-2 hours.  Before going home, the patient is given Dr. Ramsey’s personal cell phone number and encouraged to call if any questions or problems arise after they go home.  After arriving home, patients are encouraged to go for a long walk that afternoon (the same day of the surgery).  Patients follow up with the clinical staff in 1-2 days.  Most people return back to work in 2-7 days.

Endoscopic Discectomy

At Laser Spinal Solutions, Dr. Ramsey uses a minimally invasive technique to unpinch the nerves without the need of general anesthesia.  This allows patients to go home frequently in 1-2 hours after surgery. 

Endoscopic discectomy is used for the following:  pinched nerves; bone spurs; sciatica; herniated disc; bulging disc.

At the time of surgery, a patient is given some IV sedation and local anesthesia.  A very small incision is made (about 5mm).  No hole in the spine is necessary.  The endoscope is advanced through the nerve opening (neuroforamina).  The laser and small instruments are inserted into the spine to unpinch the nerves through the endoscope.  No stitches are required for this procedure.  The patient does not require general anesthesia.  A patient will go home in 1-2 hours.  Before going home, the patient is given Dr. Ramsey’s personal cell phone number and encouraged to call if any questions or problems arise after they go home.  After arriving home, patients are encouraged to go for a long walk that afternoon (the same day of the surgery).  Patients follow up with the clinical staff in 1-2 days.  Most people return back to work in 2 days.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion - (ACDF) neck fusion

At Laser Spinal Solutions, Dr. Ramsey uses minimally invasive techniques to unpinch the nerves.  This allows patients to frequently go home the same day.

An Anterior Cervical Discectomy and fusion is used for the following:  pinched nerves; bone spurs; herniate disc; bulging disc.

At the time of surgery, a patient is given general anesthesia.  Dissection is made mainly between most of the muscle groups; therefore, most patients have minimal post-operative pain.  The wind pipe (trachea) and the food tube (esophagus) are retracted to one side.  The disc and bone spurs are removed to unpinch the nerves.  Then, a piece of cadaver bone is inserted into the disc space and a small plate is used to stabilize the neck.  Most patients go home in about 2 hours.   Before going home, the patient is given Dr. Ramsey’s personal cell phone number and encouraged to call if any questions or problems arise after they go home.  Patients follow up with the clinical staff in a few days.  Most people return to work in 1-7 days.

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a procedure designed to stabilize fractures.  At the time of surgery, patients are given IV sedation and local anesthesia.  A needle is inserted into the bone using x-ray to guide the needle to the fracture.  A small balloon in inserted into the bone.  This balloon is inflated to make room for the cement.  The balloon is then deflated and removed.  The cement is then carefully inserted through the needle into the bone under x-ray guidance.  The cement sets-up in the bone and becomes hard.  When this occurs, it stabilizes the fracture and frequently eliminates the pain from the broken bone.  Because the whole surgery is done through a needle, no stitches are needed.  A patient can usually go home that same day depending on their other health issues.