Spine surgery plays an important role in treating back pain, especially chronic and recurrent pain that doesn\u2019t respond to more conservative treatment options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As effective and successful as surgery can be, in some cases, the outcome is less than expected or the surgery may fail to meet your specific needs. That\u2019s when revision spine surgery can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Chang, MD-PhD, DABNS<\/a>, is skilled in revision spine surgery<\/a> using techniques tailored to each patient\u2019s unique needs, helping relieve pain and other symptoms that persist despite an earlier surgery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s why some spine surgeries don\u2019t work the first time around and when we might recommend spine revision surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When spine surgery doesn\u2019t achieve its goals, it\u2019s usually due to one or more of these three issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smoking is one patient-related factor that increases the likelihood of a poor surgical outcome for all types of surgery. Smoking interferes with circulation, which in turn hampers healing and recovery. Obesity also increases the risk of a poor surgical outcome<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research<\/a> shows psychosocial well-being is another key factor in successful spine surgery. Patients who are depressed or chronically stressed may have poorer outcomes<\/a>, since these emotional issues can take a major toll on healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A skilled surgeon who\u2019s experienced in multiple state-of-the-art surgical procedures is vital if you want the best outcome. Some patients may require revision surgery if the first surgery used a technique that wasn\u2019t optimal for the patient\u2019s current or past medical history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Surgical complications can affect recovery and outcomes. Some patients have changes in biomechanical stresses that increase the risk of problems later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, revision spine surgery may make sense if you continue to experience pain or other symptoms for a long period of time after your surgery or when those symptoms recur later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the issues that can cause or contribute to failed back surgery are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spinal surgery often uses state-of-the-art hardware like pins, plates, or artificial components to restore spine function and relieve pain. Although rare, hardware can fail, malfunction, or shift position, resulting in ongoing symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Spinal fusion surgery helps stabilize areas of the spine to relieve nerve compression and other back or neck problems. Fusion failure happens when the bones fail to fuse or knit together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also called pseudoarthrosis, spinal fusion failure is more common among people who take corticosteroids and in surgeries where hardware isn\u2019t used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tough, fibrous scar tissue forms as part of the natural healing process. In most cases, it causes no problems. But if too much scar tissue forms or if it grows into areas where it doesn\u2019t belong, it can irritate or compress nerves and cause other problems with healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some medical problems, like diabetes, can interfere with the normal healing process, increasing the likelihood of developing a problem after your surgery. Spine-related problems like arthritis can also cause problems with surgical outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many spine surgeries are performed to treat herniated discs that can\u2019t be treated with nonsurgical options. If the initial surgery leaves part of the disc in place, it may slip again, causing ongoing pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In these instances, Dr. Chang may recommend surgery to replace the remaining disc with an artificial disc or fuse the vertebrae together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chronic spine pain can be debilitating, taking a toll on you both physically and emotionally. If you continue to have pain or other symptoms after spine surgery, Dr. Chang can help. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy spine surgery problems happen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Patient issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Surgical issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Postoperative issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reasons for having revision spine surgery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hardware failure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bone fusion failure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Scar tissue formation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Underlying medical problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Recurrent disc herniation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Find relief for your back or neck pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n