Motion Preservation Surgery

What Patients Should Know About Motion Preservation in Spine Surgery

If you’re dealing with neck or back pain and have been told you might need surgery, the idea can feel overwhelming. Many people worry that surgery will leave them “stiff” or unable to move normally. The good news is that spine surgeons at Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI) offer advanced techniques designed to relieve pain while preserving your natural motion.

A Growing Trend in Spine Surgery

Motion preservation, offered by HOI’s spine specialists, is a rapidly advancing area in spine care that keeps the spine moving as naturally as possible while correcting the cause of pain. Instead of locking bones together, motion preservation techniques may use an artificial disc or other device that lets the spine bend and twist more normally. At Hoag Orthopedic Institute, our physicians offer access to motion preservation techniques that offer effective symptom relief while maintaining spine mobility long term.

What are the Benefits of Motion Preservation Surgery?

Motion preservation offers patients several benefits including:

• Faster recovery
• Potentially better long-term outcomes
• Reduced stress on adjacent spinal segments
• A potential decreased risk of disease that can occur in some fusion patients over time.

Motion preservation surgeries have helped many patients at HOI return to active, comfortable lives without the limitations of a traditional fusion.

Types of Motion Preservation Techniques Offered at HOI

• Artificial Disc Replacement: In this advanced procedure, HOI surgeons remove the damaged disc and replace it with an artificial disc that is designed to mimic natural spine movement. It can offer long-lasting relief and can be performed in the lumbar or cervical spine. It offers a faster recovery and keeps normal spine motion.
• Decompression Without Fusion: If a nerve is being pinched, surgeons at HOI can relieve pressure without needing to fuse the spine. The spine’s natural structure and motion remain intact.
• Laminoplasty: Cervical laminoplasty reshapes and repositions bone to relieve stress on the cervical spine nerves. It can relieve pain and other symptoms caused by nerve compression.

Who is Best Suited For Motion Preservation Surgery?

Motion preservation surgery is not suitable for every patient or condition, nor does every physician offer these techniques. Therefore, it’s crucial that patients select an experienced, fellowship-trained spine surgeon who can provide guidance about the best individualized treatment, like those at Hoag Orthopedic Institute—Orange County’s leader for spine care.

From non-operative to minimally invasive and advanced surgical solutions, Hoag Orthopedic Institute’s experts are the leaders in Orange County for spine care. We offer patients access to motion preservation through our comprehensive program, which includes 25 orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons on staff and access to the latest treatment modalities. HOI’s dedicated spine surgeons are focused on matching the right procedure with the patient.