Sciatica
Description
Sciatica is the irritation of the largest nerve in
the body, the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve
begins with several nerves in the lower back
and travels down the legs. This irritation can
stem from a disc herniation, inflammation, bone
spurs or foraminal stenosis. Pain occurs when
any or all of these conditions compress the nerve
roots or spinal cord.
Symptoms
- Irritation in one leg often down to the foot
- Shooting leg pain
- Weakness or numbness
- Burning leg pain
- Pain is usually worse when sitting
Causes
- Degeneration or rupture of a disc
- Development of bone spurs or thick ligaments
- Normal aging process
- Sudden twisting
- Episode of heavy lifting
- Other physical trauma
Possible Treatment Options
Non Operative Treatment
Medications, physical therapy or spinal cortisone injections
are indicated for pain relief. Surgery can be considered for
those who do not improve.
Decompression
This surgical procedure involves removing all or portions of
the lamina, removing bone spurs and/or enlarging foramina
to relieve pressure or compression on the nerve roots or spinal
cord. This pressure is often the cause of the pain.
Decompression & Posterolateral Fusion
Often times, in addition to a decompression, your surgeon will
perform an instrumented posterolateral fusion by inserting a
series of screws and rods coupled with the placement of bone
graft. This fusion provides increased spinal stability.
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
The surgical approach is from the front of the abdomen. Once
the exposure is made, surgical instruments are used to remove
the disc material causing the nerve compression. Once this
material is removed, an interbody cage or bone spacer is placed
at the disc site filled with bone graft. The vertebral bodies above
and below are frequently put under compression to aid in the
subsequent spinal fusion.
Posterior Transforaminal Interbody Fusion
The same procedure as the ALIF but the approach and exposure
are performed from the back. Just as in an ALIF, the disc material
is removed and an interbody device is inserted. Compression
through the use of pedicle screws is frequently achieved to aid in
fusion.
For more information on Sciatica, visit UnderstandSpineSurgery.com.
