The Role of a Spine Surgeon: Understanding Their Expertise and Specializations

Spine surgeons understand the complexities of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems as they relate to the health, structure, and function of the bony spinal column. If you have sustained a back injury or have a degenerative spine condition or congenital deformity, your primary care physician may refer you to a spine surgeon for a complete diagnostic work-up and treatment plan.

Let’s talk about the role of a spine surgeon and where you can find the best spine surgeon in St. Charles County, MO.

What Versatile Spine Surgeons Do

Contrary to their supposed reputations, spine surgeons do not perform only open or minimally invasive spine surgeries. While they have extensive training, experience, and skills in surgical techniques, spine surgeons also offer other kinds of effective treatments, all based on complex diagnostic assessments, including advanced imaging.

In other words, spine surgeons diagnose and treat injuries, diseases, and degenerative conditions of the spinal column. They also correct congenital spinal deformities and devise ways for children, teens, and adults to adapt to the deficits resulting from those structural problems.

Through both operative and non-operative techniques, spine surgeons stabilize joints and remove pressure from nerves and intervertebral discs, which cushion the spine and facilitate comfortable and free movement.

How Spine Surgeons Diagnose Problems in the Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Spine

To determine why a patient has adverse spine-related symptoms, these physicians use today’s digital X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound imaging to visualize the bones and soft tissues associated with the spinal column. Blood work and innovative nerve conduction studies add valuable assessment information to aid in developing treatment plans. These plans help to relieve pain and optimize the strength, health, and function of the neck, mid-back, and lower back.

Treatments and Spine Surgeries

Spine doctors work with their patients and other healthcare providers to deliver the right medical treatments that relieve pain, improve structure and function, and allow for the best freedom of movement of the entire musculoskeletal system.

Spine doctors show patients how to:

• Avoid injuries from lifting, falls, sports and more
• Live well with chronic conditions of the spine
• Be as balanced, coordinated, strong, and steady as possible as they move and ambulate with a congenital spinal deformity

They use injection therapy, nerve blocks, physical therapy, medications, and durable medical equipment to heal injuries, post-operative wounds, and medical conditions, such as cysts, tumors, and infections, which impact spinal function. They work closely with pain management specialists to manage discomfort due to spinal stenosis, arthritis, and nerve impingements.

As with any aspect of spine care, surgeries are custom-tailored to the patient’s specific diagnosis, overall health, and realistic therapeutic outcomes. Surgeries may be traditional open procedures, or, as is becoming more and more the case, surgeries may be minimally invasive. This means the patient experiences excellent prospects for recovery without large incisions, extensive tissue disruption, or extended recovery times. Spine surgeons are experts in using small surgical instruments, guided imagery, and other innovations that improve treatment results

Surgeries include:

• Spinal fusion, placement of donor or synthetic bone along the spinal column to prevent movement and pain
• Discectomy, removal of portions of an intervertebral disc which has ruptured or been otherwise damaged
• Laminectomy, removal of all or a portion of a vertebrae to reduce pressure on nerves or discs
• Foraminotomy, a surgery that opens space within the spinal column to relieve pressure on associated nerves

Spine Doctor in St. Charles County, MO

At Advanced Bone & Joint, our spine doctors deliver the latest and most comprehensive spine care services available anywhere. We treat a long list of spinal conditions, including sciatica, lumbar back pain, degenerative disc disease, facet joint syndrome, arthritis, fractures, strains, and more.

For more information or to arrange an in-office evaluation, call us today at (636) 229-4222 or fill out our online appointment request form. We look forward to serving you at one of our three locations in Missouri.