Laser Neck Surgery Side Effects and Potential Risks

Laser neck surgery is a cutting-edge, minimally invasive spine procedure that can be used to treat a number of common spine conditions. Although laser neck surgery is beneficial and has a low risk of side effects, there is always some risk of side effects with any medical procedure. Below, we'll explore the basics about laser neck surgery and the associated risks.

What is Laser Neck Surgery?

During laser spine surgery, the doctor makes two small incisions along the spine and inserts a camera and a laser probe. The camera allows the doctor to view the spine, and the laser probe can be used to dissolve tissue, such as a herniated discs. Other tools may be inserted if necessary. This procedure has a number of benefits over traditional spine surgery:

• No large scar
• No hospital stay
• No general anesthesia
• Shorter recovery time
• Immediate relief from symptoms
• Lower risk of side effects
• No need for major procedures like removing bone or fusing the vertebrae together

Because of these benefits, laser spine surgery is becoming the favored procedure for operating on the spine and neck. Although traditional spine surgery is still necessary in some situations, laser spine surgery represents a viable alternative in many cases.

Who is a Candidate?

Although laser spine surgery is minimally invasive and has a low risk of side effects, it's still preferable to treat most neck conditions without resorting to surgery. Usually, doctors will start out with non-invasive treatments before considering surgery of any type. Medication, injections, and physical therapy will usually be used as the first course of treatment unless symptoms are severe, progressive, or unlikely to respond to conservative treatments.

If surgery is necessary, laser neck surgery can be used for most common spine conditions. Examples of eligible conditions include herniated discs, bulging discs, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis. Conditions that affect several vertebrae, alignment issues like kyphosis and scoliosis, and serious conditions like spinal tumors may still require traditional spine surgery.

Side Effects & Risks

Overall, spine surgery is considered to be a safe procedure, and laser spine surgery is safer than traditional spine surgery. However, there are some risks, including:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Scarring
• Failure to resolve symptoms
• Nerve damage
• Reaction to anesthesia
• Paralysis
• Death

Most side effects are mild and temporary. Serious side effects like paralysis and death are rare, but always possible.

Minimizing Risks

No matter what steps you and your doctor take, there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of side effects from laser spine surgery. However, you can take some steps to minimize your risk, including:

• Choice of doctor - A more skilled physician is less likely to make mistakes that could have serious consequences
• Talking to your doctor about medications and reactions - Be sure to disclose all medications you're taking prior to surgery. In addition, talk to your doctor about whether you have a history of bad reactions to medications
• Avoid touching your incision except when necessary, and always wash your hands when touching the incision. This reduces the risk of infection.
• Walk around for a few minutes the day of the surgery, as directed by your doctor. Continue to walk around as directed each day afterwards. This reduces the risk of blood clots.
• Stop smoking a few weeks prior to surgery, which helps reduce risk of infection while also improving your healing rate

Weighing the Risks

If your doctor recommends laser neck surgery, he is doing so because he believes that the benefits outweigh the risks in your case. However, you also need to weigh the risks and benefits for yourself. Keep in mind that no activity in the world is without risk - every time you choose to drive a car or take an airplane, you take some risk. Your own values and experiences will help you decide whether or not the risk of surgery is worth the benefits of getting relief from symptoms.

If you'd like to learn more about whether laser neck surgery might be right for you, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Sukdeb Datta, NYC's top laser spine surgeon. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at (212) 430-0312.