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YOU are here : Home > Spinecare Topics > Options for Spine Treatments > Benefits and Risks of Back Surgery
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Options for Spine Treatments
Benefits and Risks of Back Surgery
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Benefits and Risks of Back Surgery
Persistent Pain
Not all spine surgeries are successful. One of the most common complications of spine surgery is persistent pain, new pain or increased pain. If a spine operation is being recommended primarily to alleviate pain, the potential risks associated with the surgery need to be discussed in detail. Some pain after surgery is expected, but increased or persistent back or extremity pain requires follow-up with the attending spine surgeon. There are different types of post-operative pain that may occur. Nociceptive pain refers to the pain associated with stimulation or firing of specialized nerve endings in irritated pain sensitive tissues. The nerve endings are sensitized by the presence of various chemical and inflammation. There may be neuropathic pain, which refers to pain that arises from injury to one or more nerves and from sensitization of the pain pathways in the central nervous system.
Sexual Dysfunction
The spinal cord and spinal nerves carry nerve signals to the rest of the body. This intricate network of nerve connections allows you to feel, to move and to have sex. Damage to the spinal cord and/or to the nerves that connect to the pelvic region can result in sexual dysfunction and impotence. Continue pain or intensified pain after surgery may reduce sexual performance, desire and ability.
Thrombophlebitis
Coagulation or clotting of blood inside inflamed veins is referred to as thrombophlebitis. When blood clots within deep veins it is referred to as deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT can occur after any surgical procedure. Individuals who have not had surgery are also at risk for developing DVT. Blood clots are more likely to develop in the legs than in the pelvis or upper extremities. They more commonly may develop within the large veins of the calves. DVT can occur in the veins of the pelvis. Upper extremity DVT is relatively rare.
There is a greater risk for developing DVT after surgery rather than during surgery. The increased risk of developing DVT after surgery is associated with a number of factors. One of the most significant factors is the increased presence and circulation of clotting factors in the blood that are released in response to bleeding associated with surgery. DVT can also develop secondary to direct trauma to blood vessels during surgery. Sustained positioning and immobility also increases the risk for developing DVT. Blood that sits in one place to long will begin to clot (coagulate).
If a piece of a blood clot breaks off inside a vein and travels away from its point of origin it is called an embolism. Venous blood clotting can result in embolism that can travel to the lungs or to the heart. An embolism in the legs can travel through the right side of the heart, into the lungs (pulmonary embolism) and lodge in a small blood vessel. This can impair the delivery of oxygen to the involved areas of the lungs and lead to damage to lung tissue. If a considerable amount of lung tissue is damaged that portion of the lung can collapse. The portion of the lung that is blocked cannot survive and may collapse. DVT and resultant pulmonary embolism can lead to death or significant disability.
Not all spine surgeries are successful. One of the most common complications of spine surgery is persistent pain, new pain or increased pain. If a spine operation is being recommended primarily to alleviate pain, the potential risks associated with the surgery need to be discussed in detail. Some pain after surgery is expected, but increased or persistent back or extremity pain requires follow-up with the attending spine surgeon. There are different types of post-operative pain that may occur. Nociceptive pain refers to the pain associated with stimulation or firing of specialized nerve endings in irritated pain sensitive tissues. The nerve endings are sensitized by the presence of various chemical and inflammation. There may be neuropathic pain, which refers to pain that arises from injury to one or more nerves and from sensitization of the pain pathways in the central nervous system.
Sexual Dysfunction
The spinal cord and spinal nerves carry nerve signals to the rest of the body. This intricate network of nerve connections allows you to feel, to move and to have sex. Damage to the spinal cord and/or to the nerves that connect to the pelvic region can result in sexual dysfunction and impotence. Continue pain or intensified pain after surgery may reduce sexual performance, desire and ability.
Thrombophlebitis
Coagulation or clotting of blood inside inflamed veins is referred to as thrombophlebitis. When blood clots within deep veins it is referred to as deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT can occur after any surgical procedure. Individuals who have not had surgery are also at risk for developing DVT. Blood clots are more likely to develop in the legs than in the pelvis or upper extremities. They more commonly may develop within the large veins of the calves. DVT can occur in the veins of the pelvis. Upper extremity DVT is relatively rare.
There is a greater risk for developing DVT after surgery rather than during surgery. The increased risk of developing DVT after surgery is associated with a number of factors. One of the most significant factors is the increased presence and circulation of clotting factors in the blood that are released in response to bleeding associated with surgery. DVT can also develop secondary to direct trauma to blood vessels during surgery. Sustained positioning and immobility also increases the risk for developing DVT. Blood that sits in one place to long will begin to clot (coagulate).
If a piece of a blood clot breaks off inside a vein and travels away from its point of origin it is called an embolism. Venous blood clotting can result in embolism that can travel to the lungs or to the heart. An embolism in the legs can travel through the right side of the heart, into the lungs (pulmonary embolism) and lodge in a small blood vessel. This can impair the delivery of oxygen to the involved areas of the lungs and lead to damage to lung tissue. If a considerable amount of lung tissue is damaged that portion of the lung can collapse. The portion of the lung that is blocked cannot survive and may collapse. DVT and resultant pulmonary embolism can lead to death or significant disability.
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