You'll wake up in the recovery zone. You may have a sore throat from the tube that was inserted to help you breathe during surgery. Once awake, you will be transferred to your room. Your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing will be monitored.
When you wake up after lumbar decompression surgery, you may feel pain in your back and you may connect to one or more tubes. You will be asked to sign a consent form before surgery. This form confirms that you understand all treatment options, as well as the risks and potential benefits of surgery. If you are not sure, you should request more information and sign the form only when you are completely satisfied.
Patients are usually admitted to the hospital the day before or the morning of surgery. In situations where several investigations (scans, etc.) or consultations are needed, you may be admitted a couple of days before surgery. Upon admission, you will be evaluated by a doctor and a nurse. Blood tests and sometimes an ECG are done to make sure you are fit for surgery.
You will also meet with your anaesthetist sometime before the operation. Small round-surface markers called “fiducial” attach to the forehead and scalp. A small amount of hair will need to be shaved to ensure that the fiducial make proper contact with the skin and do not fall out. Markers stay in place until surgery, where the computer “sees” them.
It is important that you do not remove your fiducial marks or wash your hair before surgery, as they are likely to fall out. You will need a pre-surgical physical exam to make the necessary adjustments based on your health history. When you arrive at the hospital, you will talk to the surgeon and anesthesiologist. You will be under general anesthesia (completely asleep) for this procedure and face down on the operating room table.
During lumbar decompression surgery, there is a risk of accidental damage to the nerve lining, which can lead to loss of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). About 1 in 20 to 100 people who have lumbar decompression surgery will develop new numbness or weakness in one or both legs as a result of the operation. Recovery after lumbar decompression surgery will depend on your physical condition and activity level before surgery. Lumbar decompression surgery is a type of surgery used to treat compressed nerves in the lower part of the spine (lumbar).
While lumbar decompression is usually successful, like all types of surgery, it carries a risk of complications. The goal of lumbar decompression surgery is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves, while maintaining as much of the strength and flexibility of the spine as possible. With benefits including a shorter hospital stay and easier recovery, awake spine surgery means more people can have the spinal surgery they need. As with all types of surgery, there is a risk of dying during or after lumbar decompression surgery, although this is rare.
Decompression surgery, also called cervical or lumbar laminectomy, is a common back surgery that aims to reduce leg pain caused by stenosis, or compression, in the spine. If you and your consultant decide that you could benefit from lumbar decompression surgery, they will put you on the waiting list. Minimally invasive awake spine surgery is a procedure that allows patients to stay awake during surgery without experiencing pain. Lumbar decompression surgery is performed by a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon with experience in spinal surgery.
Lumbar decompression surgery is generally effective in relieving symptoms such as pain and numbness in the legs. Abd-El-Barr believes more people will opt for awake spine surgery when they know the benefits include faster recovery, fewer post-operative complications and less time in the hospital. Paralysis is a rare but serious complication that can occur as a result of lumbar decompression surgery. .
