Spinal Surgery | Motion Sparing | MedStar Health

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Our doctors are fellowship-trained in treating conditions of the back and neck and have extensive experience performing spinal surgeries, including motion-sparing spinal surgery. We offer comprehensive and personalized care in the DC and Baltimore region so that you have access to everything you need for a safe and successful recovery.

What is motion-sparing spinal surgery?

Traditionally, surgeons treated conditions that put pressure on the spinal cord and related nerves with fusion surgery. Fusion surgery merges the vertebrae, which relieves pain and pressure but also restricts your ability to move. Motion-sparing spinal surgery gives you the best of both worlds–it relieves pressure on your spinal cord and preserves your range of motion, without having to fuse the affected area.

Why is motion-sparing spinal surgery performed?

This surgical technique is effective for a range of conditions, including:

Motion-sparing neck surgeries

Our orthopedic team uses motion-sparing techniques in several advanced cervical spine (neck) surgeries, including:

  • Cervical artificial disc replacement: In this procedure, pressure on the nerves in your neck is released without affecting your range of motion. This procedure offers you a faster return to your normal lifestyle, with fewer restrictions on your activities after surgery.

  • Cervical laminoplasty: Laminoplasty is a procedure that relieves pressure on the spinal cord caused by cervical spinal stenosis. This procedure does not limit the ability to turn and move your neck following surgery. MedStar Health is one of the only groups in the area that offers this advanced procedure.

Motion-sparing back surgeries

MedStar Health offers an advanced, motion-sparing lumbar spine (back) surgery:

  • Lumbar artificial disc replacement: During this procedure, your surgeon will remove a problematic disc (often the result of disc herniation or degenerative disc disease) and replace it with an artificial disc.

What are the benefits?

Motion-sparing lumbar or cervical spine surgery may offer the following benefits:

  • Neck and back pain relief

  • Faster recovery time

  • Less scarring

  • Less blood loss during surgery

  • Restored range of motion

  • Ability to return to physical activities

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