Revision Spine Surgery Specialist

What is revision spine surgery?

Revision spine surgery takes care of problems that persist after earlier spine surgery. Although it’s possible that something didn’t go as planned in your original surgery, in most cases, revision surgery is needed for reasons that aren’t related to your procedure.

Revision surgeries are more challenging than your original surgery. For this reason, Dr. Cohen devotes extensive time to reviewing your medical records, evaluating your current health, talking with you about the procedure, and guiding your decision about the next step to take.

What symptoms might indicate I need revision spine surgery?

Pain and fatigue are the most common symptoms. Your pain may occur during certain activities, feel like a severe bruise, or cause sudden, severe, shooting pain. When your pain develops shortly after surgery, it may be due to nerve compression, while delayed pain may be a sign of ongoing degeneration or an infection.

You may also develop a loss of balance if your original surgery was to correct a spinal deformity. Some patients feel like they’re falling forward or like they’re leaning to one side. If you have a progressive spine deformity, your clothes may not fit properly.

When might I need revision spine surgery?

These are a few of the most common conditions treated with revision spine surgery:

• Progressive deformities: New or worsening symptoms develop
• Pseudarthrosis: Bones don’t heal properly following a spinal fusion
• Failed back surgery syndrome: Ongoing pain after spine surgery
• Recurring disc herniation: Herniated disc returns after a successful discectomy
• Adjacent segment disease: Degeneration of vertebral joints above and below the surgery site
• Radiculopathy: Pinched nerve
• Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal

In some cases, revision surgery is needed because fluid-filled sacs form around the screws or plates used to stabilize your bones during a spinal fusion. The health of your bones also influences surgery outcomes. For example, osteoporosis affects how your bones heal.

How is revision surgery performed?

Whenever possible, Dr. Cohen performs minimally invasive surgery to promote quicker healing and recovery. The type of revision surgery you need is unique to your underlying problem. Dr. Cohen may perform another fusion, add more internal support such as screws or plates, remove implants, clean out infected tissues, or perform decompressive surgery.

If you continue to have pain and limited movement following spine surgery, call Benjamin Cohen, MD, or book an appointment online.