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Spine

Types of Spine Surgery 

Patients across southeastern Virginia trust the neurosurgical team at Riverside Health for comprehensive surgical and non-surgical spine care. Whether you need a minimally invasive procedure or a complex spinal surgery, our nationally recognized program is equipped with the highest level of experience, technology and quality required for this complex specialty.  

Let’s start with the basics. Spinal surgeries fall into two main categories, decompression and fusion, and some surgeries are a combination of both. What’s the difference? Read on.

Closeup of female doctor hand with artificial disc herniation and spine model. Treatment of herniated discs and diseases of spine

Spinal Decompression Surgeries 

When more conservative therapies don’t help, decompression surgeries can help relieve pain by addressing the structures applying the pressure on the nerves and/or spinal cord. This can include removing all or part of a disc (discectomy), a small part of the vertebral bone (laminectomy) or bone and other tissue around the nerve roots (foraminotomy). Additionally, bone spurs (osteophytes) can also be removed if they are part of the problem.  

Decompression procedures are used to treat many spinal conditions, including:  

  1. - Bulging or herniated discs 
  2. - Cervical radiculopathy (pain radiating down the arm) 
  3. - Lumbar radiculopathy / sciatica (pain radiating down the leg) 
  4. - Pinched nerves 
  5. - Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar spinal stenosis 

This image illustrate posterior lumbar fusion with pedicle screws and rods is a surgical procedure used to treat various lumbar spine conditions. It involves removing damaged discs, placing a bone graft for fusion, and stabilizing the spine using pedicle screws and rods. The goal is to promote spinal fusion, alleviate symptoms, and improve stability.

Spinal Fusion Surgeries 

Fusion procedures are performed to correct spinal alignment or provide stabilization to prevent spinal instability. This is accomplished by locking adjacent vertebrae together, thus preventing movement between them. It may be needed in cases of deformity or trauma, or to rebuild stability after removing discs or bone in a decompression procedure. The type of fusion will vary by location on the spine, the number of sections involved and the approach (either from the front or back of the body).  

Fusion procedures are used to treat many spinal conditions, including:  

  • - Bulging, herniated or severely degenerated discs 
  • - Cervical radiculopathy (pain radiating down the arm) 
  • - Lumbar radiculopathy / sciatica (pain radiating down the leg) 
  • - Spinal deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis 
  • - Spine fractures from trauma 
  • - Spinal stenosis 
  • - Spinal tumors that compromise the bony structure of the spinal column 
  • - Spondylosis 

Common Surgical Procedures

Relieving pressure, restoring mobility—how decompression & fusion can help your spine.
Decompression & Fusion: What You Need to Know

If you're struggling with chronic back or neck pain, decompression and fusion surgery may be a solution to restore function and improve your quality of life. In this video, Dr. Amadeo, a spine specialist at Riverside Health, explains the decompression and fusion procedure, how it works, and who may be a candidate.

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Ways to Be Referred to Riverside Hampton Roads Neurosurgical & Spine Specialists

Spine Diagnostic & Referral Process

Primary Care

Contacting your primary care provider is often the best place to start when investigating back pain, neck pain or other spine-related concerns. Utilize Riverside MyChart to connect with your primary care provider.

Urgent Care

If you don’t have a regular primary care provider, or your need to be seen during an evening or weekend, visiting an urgent care clinic near you is a convenient choice.

Access Clinic

Our specialized Access Clinics in Williamsburg, Newport News and Gloucester offer same-day or next-business-day appointments for the evaluation and diagnosis of orthopedic and back problems.

Riverside Nurse

For free guidance with your situation, call Riverside Nurse at 1-800-675-6368. Registered Nurses are available 24/7 to triage your symptoms and refer you if needed.

Neurosurgeons Group Photo

What Really Matters

When seeking spine care, there are crucial factors to consider so that you can ensure you’re putting your health in the hands of qualified, experiences, compassionate, patient-centered team equipped to offer the most effective, comprehensive care possible.

Top 100 Spine Surgery Program

Riverside Regional Medical Center is a recipient of the Healthgrades 2022 Spine Surgery Excellence Award, a recognition only received by 100 of more than 4,500 hospitals assessed nationwide.

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Best Spine Surgeons in the U.S.

Two of Riverside’s esteemed neurosurgeons, Dr. Dean Kostov and Dr. William McCallister, were named to Newsweek’s inaugural list of the 150 best spine surgeons in the country for 2024.

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