The bones, cartilage, and nerves of the spine are some of the most delicate and complex in the entire human body. It takes only a small error at any part of the process – from diagnosis to treatment to recovery – to cause the back surgery to fail.
When looking at the potential causes for FBSS, it starts by looking at the surgery itself, and what possible complications and issues may have contributed to its failure. With so many different types of back surgery, the potential for problems and complications can be substantial.
Failed Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is a highly popular treatment for chronic back pain. It is often the most successful option for issues like degenerative disc disease (DDD), as well as spinal stenosis, spinal fractures, and more. But it also has a high failure rate, due in large part to the differences in how the procedure was performed, the strength and weaknesses of surrounding discs, and more.
Every type of spinal fusion has these potential issues, including:
- Lumbar Fusion (ALIF and PLIF)
- Cervical Fusion
- TLIF
- XLIF
- Minimally Invasive Fusion
Some of the most popular procedures do have drawbacks that not every spine surgeon accounts for, and in some cases – such as the posterior lumbar fusion – the ease of surgery comes with added risk for failure.
Other Types of Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
In addition to spinal fusion, there are many other possible treatments that may lead to FBSS. These include common procedures such as:
- Failed Back Surgery – Including microdiscectomy, laminectomy, laminotomy, kyphoplasty, and vertebroplasty.
- Failed Neck Surgery – Including neck fusion, ACDF, artificial discs, and cervical cages.
- Failed Spinal Implant Surgery– Including X-Stop, Mobi-C, and Coflex.
There is also failed laser spine surgery, failed post-laminectomy syndrome, adjacent segment disease, and much more – all of which can yield problems that may occur before, during, and after surgery.
Diagnosis also has to look at whether or not the surgeon made the right choice in determining the best treatment for your chronic pain, as well as whether or not recovery instructions and behaviors may have affected the outcome.
But while there are many different issues that could lead to the development of FBSS, it’s also important to look at where you are now, including the status and causes of your current pain, and the appropriate changes that need to be made in order to successfully treat it.
Call Spine Center Atlanta Today for Nationally Recognized FBSS Treatments
Led by noted specialist Dr. James L Chappuis, Spine Center Atlanta specializes in the treatment of pain after back surgery. We see patients both throughout the southeast and the rest of the United States and help provide a thorough diagnosis and appropriate treatment that can successfully reduce neck and back pain. For more information about the types of failed spine surgery, as well as the available treatment, please call us today at 404-351-5812.
