subject: To Fuse or Not to Fuse… [print this page] The more invasive a surgery is to treat the painful disc, the higher the risk of "collateral damage." Collateral damage is damage to your body's tissues that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome. The damaged disc(s) are located at the center of the spine between vertebrae. Layers of tissue (skin, muscle, ligaments, bones and nerves) lie between your skin and the damaged disc. The more invasive a surgery is, the higher the risk of complications, surgical failure, collateral damage to normal surrounding tissue, greater use of painkillers and a prolonged recovery. Fusions, artificial discs and laminectomy with discectomy account for over 95 percent of surgeries performed today for treatment of a painful disc. These procedures are highly invasive and usually require months to years for full recovery, large scars, permanent muscle damage, destabilization of the spine, months off work, loss of normal spinal alignment or motion with fusions, and prolonged use of powerful painkillers. Fortunately, there is now a breakthrough in minimally invasive spinal surgery using a revolutionary technology. Deuk Laser Disc Repair reduces collateral damage by 95 percent and is the next step in the evolution of minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery.
