Automobile accidents and falls are a common cause of spinal injuries and can result in whiplash, neck pain, back pain, sciatica and herniated disc. While a majority of patients improve with non-invasive conservative care and injections, some patients require more invasive treatment. NeuroEndospine surgery is an important option for those patients.
Unique qualities of the accident injured patient requiring surgery
Accident injured patients are unique in several ways. These patients often suffer multiple injuries and may require invasive treatments in multiple body areas. Neck or back injuries often occur at multiple levels. Also, neck and back injuries are seen together in about two thirds of cases.
Accident injured patients may also have injuries to a particular type of spinal joint, called the “facet” joint. Facet joint problems are usually more common in older patients. However, when seen in younger patients it is usually as a result of an accident. Traditional treatment of facet joint injuries typically requires multiple injections and nerve “coagulation” procedures that may have to be repeated.
Another unique factor in accident injuries is that there may be litigation involved. Litigation is a legal process where the injured person seeks compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and economic loss, among other things. In cases involving litigation, documentation of injuries is often crucial to establishing the injured patient’s case.
NeuroEndospine surgery for the injured patient
NeuroEndospine surgery allows a quicker recovery in the injured patient compared to traditional surgical means. This is especially important in the injured patient who may require multiple procedures in multiple areas. NeuroEndospine surgery accommodates a quick recovery in several ways. First, NeuroEndospine surgery utilizes the smallest incisions of any effective spinal procedure. A small incision means that a patient’s recovery is not prolonged by a larger wound. Secondly, NeuroEndospine surgery is performed by very small tubes and lenses, 7-10mm in diameter. These tubes are so small that they often avoid disrupting normal spinal joints, ligaments and muscle. This preserves normal spinal stability and allows a quicker return to normal activity.
NeuroEndospine surgery is the only permanent therapy available for spinal facet joint injury. Unlike other treatments for this painful condiiton, the procedure does not need to be repeated; it’s proven to be permanent.
Accident patients involved in litigation need their treatments and injuries to be well documented. NeuroEndospine surgery utilizes a tiny lens inserted into the spine. This allows the surgeon to document the injury and surgery via a sophisticated high-definition camera. Video from surgery is stored digitally and is often used to demonstrate the patient’s injuries during litigation.
In addition to the benefits of faster recovery, permanent treatment of facet joint injuries and video documentation of injuries, accident injured patients have the same benefits as anyone else who undergoes NeuroEndospine surgery. These include the ability to avoid spinal fusion, maintaining the normal core strength of the spine and avoiding collateral injury to spinal joints and ligaments.
Summary:
- Accident injured patients often have injuries to multiple sights of the spine and at multiple spinal levels.
- Because of their multiple injuries, faster recovery surgery is important.
- NeuroEndospine surgery allows faster recovery by minimizing incision size and collateral injury to important spinal structures.
- Accident injured patients may have injuries to the spinal joints, a condition that traditionally cannot be cured.
- NeuroEndospine surgery is the only permanent means of treating spinal joint injuries.
- Accident injured patients require extensive documentation of their injuries when in litigation.
- NeuroEndospine surgery is performed under high-definition video of the spine, allowing excellent documentation of a patient’s injuries for litigation.
