Two types of material when present in the spinal column were the spinal nerve roots and spinal cord membranes are located (epidural space) produce severe scarring. Most scar producing is the presence of nucleus pulposus, which is the soft central part of the spinal discs. The next scar producing material is presence of blood in this space. Both of these materials are released in large quantities with lumbar laminectomy and open discectomy.

A herniated lumbar disc can press on the nerves in the spine and may cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness of the leg, called sciatica. Most patients (80% - 90%) with an acute lumbar disc herniation improve without surgery. Surgery is less effective in relieving back pain, but for some patients, especially those with leg pain, surgery may be recommended. Surgery removes part of the herniated disc through a small incision, relieving the pressure on the nerve. See similar questions...

Post-surgical patients are well served by rehab but must be careful not to disrupt the surgical repair. For a simple laminectomy/discectomy the soft tissues are usually well healed and able to withstand maximum work-outs after 8 weeks. Until that point patients are placed in our sub-maximal program. Proper exercise during the post operative period, while the soft tissues are still healing, can influence the way in which the collagen is laid down. See similar questions...

Lumbar Endoscopic Discectomy (LED) is recommended to treat herniated/protruded lumbar discs with or without annular tears and degenerative disc disease. This procedure is performed endoscopically with a small probe, under local anesthesia and there is no incision. Dr. Schiffer often combines the LED procedure with Thermal Annuloplasty procedure. Microdiscectomy is recommended to treat sequestered free fragment and bone spurs in the lumbar region. See similar questions...

Laminectomy is removal of the back side of the spinal canal under which lie the nerve tissues. This provides access to the nerves and the discs for specific treatment. When commonly performed in the "low back" or lumbar spine this may actually be below the level of the spinal cord itself. A laminectomy is, in the strictest sense, the removal of the lamina or roof of the spine. See similar questions...

All surgical procedures have potential risks and possible complications and those associated with selective endoscopic discectomy™ surgery are similar but much less common than following open back surgery. The most common complications are: persistent nerve root pain either due to minor manipulation of the nerve or regeneration of the nerve that was damaged prior to surgery. See similar questions...

This may occur when you left the program running and did not log off. When this occurs, simply restart your machine. You will then be able to start the Play65™ software again by double clicking on the Play65™ icon which is placed on your desktop. See similar questions...

The incisions are so tiny, that any scarring is not seen. Most patients can barely see their incisions four to six weeks following surgery. Compared to the “railroad tracks” associated with traditional vein stripping, the scars are practically non-existent. See similar questions...

Most definitely. Open discectomy is generally done by laminectomy or hemilaminectomy, which requires removal of part of the posterior cage of the spinal canal. Then access to the disc is obtained once this section of bone and its underlying ligamentous are removed. The annulus fibrous that is the tough fibrous portion of the disc is taken out in small pieces and the herniated segment of the disc is removed in a similar manner. See similar questions...

Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare. Signs of serious allergic reaction can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. These reactions are more likely to occur among persons with a severe allergy to eggs, because the viruses used in the influenza vaccine are grown in hens' eggs. See similar questions...

Lumbar instability involves excessive motion between vertebral segments. This motion may be caused by spinal fractures, tumors, infection, scoliosis or other bony abnormalities that weaken the architecture of the spine. When severe, the instability can cause incapacitating deformity or pain as a result of the structural changes. Instability can also lead to damage or inflammation of the nerve roots. Disc degeneration may cause more subtle instability and produce pain from repetitive motion. See similar questions...

If your baby is at risk of infection (for example if your baby is premature or the waters broke around baby at least 24 hours before delivery) or he/she is unwell a lumbar puncture may be included as part of the infection screen. A lumbar puncture is typically done to look for meningitis, an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Although meningitis is a rare occurrence it is important to detect and treat the condition as soon as possible. See similar questions...

BSE was first observed in Great Britain in April 1985 and was officially diagnosed in 1986. By June 1990, some 14,000 cases were confirmed (out of an estimated population of 10 million cattle) in Great Britain. Since 1986, more than 185,000 cases of BSE have been confirmed in Great Britain. The epidemic peaked in 1992-93 at almost 1,000 new cases per week. Control measures have since reduced incidence of the disease, and currently fewer than 100 new cases are reported per week. See similar questions...

Fistula occurs when emergency obstetric care is not available to women who develop complications during childbirth. This is why women living in remote rural areas with little access to medical care are at risk. Before the medical advances of the 20th Century, fistula was quite common in Europe and the United States. Today, fistula is almost unheard of in high-income countries, or in countries where obstetric care is widely available. See similar questions...

In 2007, there are approximately 2 million people with limb loss in the United States (excluding fingers and toes). There are more than 185,000 new amputations preformed each year in this country. The prevalence rate in 1996 was 4.9 per 1,000 persons. The incidence rate was 46.2 per 100,000 persons with dysvascular disease, 5.86 per 100,000 persons secondary to trauma, 0.35 per 100,000 secondary to malignancy of a bone or joint. The birth prevalence of congenital limb deficiency in 1996 was 25. See similar questions...

Sound enters your ears in sound waves. These sound waves hit your eardrum and are converted to pressure changes in the inner ear. This causes special nerves to impulse, which are read by your brain as sound. When these nerves are exposed to a surplus of pressure changes, they may become damaged. You may have noticed that if you listen to loud music for several hours that your ears "ring." This is a Temporary Threshold Shift, or a temporary reduction in hearing. See similar questions...

Conception, or fertilization, occurs when the male's sperm meets with the woman's ovum (egg) and successfully penetrates it. This typically takes place in one of the woman's fallopian tubes and the fertilized egg then travels to the uterus and implants in the uterine lining. For pregnancy to take place, fertilization of the egg must be followed by a successful implantation. Only one egg is released for fertilization in each menstrual cycle. See similar questions...