Back Surgery Specialist

If you haven’t responded to conservative back pain treatments, back surgery at Texas Brain & Spine Center, with offices in Webster and Lake Jackson, Texas, can offer you long-lasting relief. Experienced neurosurgeon James Gregory Bonnen, MD, and his team offer a wide array of advanced back surgeries to give you the most desirable outcome with minimal downtime. Schedule a consultation with Texas Brain & Spine Center by phone or online to learn more.

Back Surgery Q & A

What is back surgery?

Back surgery at Texas Brain & Spine Center involves surgical procedures in which Dr. Bonnen corrects injuries or deformities in your spine to relieve pain, improve range of motion and mobility, and allow you to enjoy everyday activities. If you haven’t had success with conservative back pain treatments, you may be a candidate for back surgery.

What are the different types of back surgery?

Dr. Bonnen and his experienced surgical team offer the following back surgeries at Texas Brain & Spine Center:

Lumbar Decompression

Lumbar decompression involves spinal surgery that relieves spinal stenosis, spinal injuries, sciatica, slipped discs, and cancer that affects your spinal cord. During surgery, Dr. Bonnen removes a section of your vertebrae or a damaged disc to relieve nerve pressure. 

He might fuse two or more vertebrae to stabilize or strengthen your spine. Types of lumbar decompression include microdiscectomy for a herniated disc, lumbar laminectomy for spinal stenosis, corpectomy, and interspinous process spacer surgery.

Discectomy

During a discectomy, Dr. Bonnen removes damaged disc material that presses on a nerve to alleviate chronic back pain.

Laminectomy

With laminectomy or open decompression, Dr. Bonnen removes part of your vertebrae to relieve pressure on spinal nerves and reduce back pain.

Lumbar fusion

There are numerous ways Dr. Bonnen completes lumbar fusion. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) for spondylolisthesis involves removing all or part of a herniated disc from the front part of your body and fusing vertebrae with a bone graft or other special materials.

During transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for spondylolisthesis, Dr. Bonnen places a bone graft and fusion implants in areas between two vertebral bodies. Doing so helps relieve pressure on nerves responsible for chronic pain.

Other types of lumbar fusion procedures include posterolateral gutter fusion, posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), anterior/posterior spinal fusion, and extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF).

Foraminotomy

Foraminotomy is a surgical procedure in which Dr. Bonnen widens the opening in your back where nerve roots are located. The procedure can treat foraminal stenosis or narrowing of a nerve opening in your spinal canal.

What should I expect during back surgery?

Before back surgery at Texas Brain & Spine Center, you receive anesthesia, so you don’t feel pain during the procedure. Dr. Bonnen makes a tiny incision in your back to complete surgery and stitches up the area when he’s finished. 

He and his team give you post-surgical care instructions and let you know when to return for a follow-up visit. You may complete physical therapy during healing to optimize your results.

Which back surgery is right for me?

Prior to back surgery at Texas Brain & Spine Center, the experienced surgical team reviews your medical history and symptoms. They complete a physical exam and may use blood tests or imaging procedures like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or ultrasound to let you know which type of back surgery best matches your personalized needs.

Don’t live with back pain or a spinal deformity when you don’t have to. Schedule an appointment with Texas Brain & Spine Center by phone or request one online today.