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  1. Home
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  3. Orthopaedics
  4. Understanding spinal surgery care

Understanding spinal surgery care

Understanding spinal surgery care

This information will help you prepare for your spinal surgery and give you a better understanding of what to expect after surgery.

About your spine

Spinal anatomy showing the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacrum/coccyx regionsThe bones in your spine are called vertebrae.

In between these bones are cushioning (intervertebral) discs which allow movement between your vertebrae and absorb the stress and load on your spine as you move. The discs cannot slip out of place, as people sometimes think, as they are attached to the vertebrae above and below.

Your spine is made up of four sections:

  • neck (cervical spine)
  • mid-back (thoracic spine)
  • lower back (lumbar spine)
  • tail bone (sacrum and coccyx).

Small openings on either side of the spine (intervertebral foramina) enable your spinal nerves to reach various muscles, joints, ligaments, organs and the skin.

Each vertebra has its own pair of facet joints (like knuckle joints) that connect it to the next vertebra. These facet joints allow your spine to bend, twist and stretch while limiting excessive movement.

Common types of spinal surgery

Surgery aims to relieve pressure on the nerves in the spine when this causes symptoms such as pain or weakness in one or both:

  • legs, in the case of pressure in the lower back
  • arms, in the case of pressure in the neck.

Common surgeries include:

  • discectomy – removal of part of a disc which is irritating or putting pressure on a spinal nerve or the spinal cord
  • foraminotomy – opening the foramina (small openings on either side of the spine) when this is narrowed causing irritation or pressure on a spinal nerve
  • laminectomy – removal of the lamina (bony arch) at the back of the vertebra to relieve pressure on a spinal nerve or the spinal cord
  • fusion – removal of a whole disc and filling the space with bone and/or metal to fuse (join) that part of the spine. This is usually performed along with one or more of the ‘decompression’ surgeries listed above rather than as a standalone procedure.

Improving your spinal surgery outcomes and recovery

To improve your spinal surgery outcomes and recovery it is important you understand:

  • how to prepare yourself and your home before surgery
  • what to expect while in hospital after your surgery
  • exercises that can support your recovery
  • how to manage and resume daily living activities after surgery.

Contact us

Fiona Stanley Hospital patients are asked to phone the Fiona Stanley Hospital Helpdesk on 6152 2222 and ask to speak with someone from their treating team.

Last Updated: 27/09/2023
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