Patient Education
Spinal Treatment Options
From conservative care to advanced surgical techniques, explore the treatment options available for spinal conditions.
A Comprehensive Approach to Spine Care
Treatment for spinal conditions follows a stepwise approach, beginning with the least invasive options and progressing to surgical intervention only when necessary. The goal is always to relieve pain, restore function, and prevent further deterioration while minimizing risk to the patient.
Your treatment plan will be tailored to your specific diagnosis, the severity of your symptoms, your overall health, and your personal goals. Dr. Burton believes in shared decision-making — working with each patient to determine the approach that offers the best balance of benefit and risk for their individual situation.
Conservative (Non-Surgical) Options
Most spinal conditions respond well to conservative treatment, and surgery is rarely the first recommendation. Non-surgical approaches aim to reduce inflammation, strengthen supporting muscles, and allow natural healing to occur.
Physical Therapy
Structured exercise programs to strengthen core muscles, improve flexibility, and correct postural imbalances.
Medication Management
Anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and nerve pain medications to control symptoms during recovery.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory medication to the area around compressed nerves for pain relief.
Activity Modification
Guidance on ergonomics, lifting techniques, and lifestyle changes to reduce spinal stress.
Bracing
External support devices that limit motion and provide stability during healing of fractures or post-surgical recovery.
Nerve Block Injections
Diagnostic and therapeutic injections that interrupt pain signals from specific nerves or joints.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
When surgery is necessary, minimally invasive techniques offer significant advantages over traditional open approaches. Instead of cutting through muscles, these procedures use small incisions and tubular retractors to gently spread muscle fibers apart, allowing access to the spine with minimal tissue damage.
Benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery typically include smaller incisions, less blood loss, reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster return to normal activities. Combined with image-guided navigation technology, these techniques allow for exceptional precision and safety.
Microdiscectomy
Removal of herniated disc material through a small incision using an operating microscope.
Minimally Invasive TLIF
Spinal fusion performed through tubular retractors with less muscle disruption than traditional approaches.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Use of a small camera and instruments through a tiny incision for disc removal or decompression.
Percutaneous Pedicle Screws
Placement of spinal instrumentation through small stab incisions rather than open exposure.
Traditional & Complex Surgical Procedures
Some conditions require traditional open surgical approaches, particularly complex deformity corrections, multi-level fusions, or revision surgeries. These procedures provide maximum visualization and access for the surgeon.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)
Disc removal and fusion through the front of the neck to treat cervical disc herniations and stenosis.
Lumbar Laminectomy
Removal of the lamina to decompress the spinal canal in patients with spinal stenosis.
Spinal Fusion (Various Approaches)
Permanently joining vertebrae using bone graft and instrumentation to eliminate painful motion.
Artificial Disc Replacement
Replacing a damaged disc with a prosthetic device that preserves motion at the treated level.
Corpectomy
Removal of an entire vertebral body and adjacent discs, typically for tumors, fractures, or severe deformity.
Deformity Correction
Complex multi-level procedures to restore spinal alignment in patients with scoliosis or kyphosis.
Advanced Technology
Image-Guided Navigation
Real-time 3D imaging during surgery that provides GPS-like guidance for precise instrument and implant placement, reducing the risk of complications.
Intraoperative Neuromonitoring
Continuous monitoring of spinal cord and nerve function during surgery, alerting the surgical team to any changes that could indicate risk of injury.
Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Robotic platforms that enhance the surgeon's precision for screw placement and other instrumentation, improving accuracy beyond what is achievable by hand alone.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Implantable devices that deliver mild electrical pulses to the spinal cord to interrupt chronic pain signals, offering relief for patients with persistent pain.
Ready to Find Relief?
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Burton to discuss your condition and explore your treatment options.