Spine surgery

About your spine

The spine supports the weight of your body, provides flexibility for movement and even protects the spinal cord. That’s why a spinal injury can limit your range of motion and cause extreme pain — both locally and in other parts of the body because of the many nerves connected to your spine.

Symptoms and conditions 

• Disc herniation: a tear or leak in the cushion between the bones in your spine (vertebrae)
• Spinal stenosis: a narrowing of the spaces within the spine, putting pressure on the spinal nerves
• Spondylolysthesis: when one of the vertebra slips out of position
• Scoliosis: when the spine twists and curves to the side
• Fractures
• Infections
• Tumors
• Congenital spinal anomalies

Treatment and services

At Optum, our expert multidisciplinary spine surgery team offers a comprehensive approach to treatment and rehabilitation. Our team uses the more advanced technology and techniques, always favoring the least invasive process for enhanced safety and a faster recovery.

• Physical therapy
• Imaging
• Pain management
• Surgery

Surgical treatment options include:

• Endoscopic discectomy: removes herniated disc material that is causing pain in the lower back and legs, mid back, or neck and arms
• Fusion surgeries: surgery that connect two or more vertebrates to take pressure off of “pinched” nerves and/or the spinal cord and to stabilize the spine
• Kyphoplasty: repairs spinal compression fractures by injecting a special cement into the affected vertebrae
• Laminectomy: removes part or all of the vertebral bone to ease pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots that may be caused by injury, herniated disk, spinal stenosis or tumors

Medical care and help

To find a spine surgeon near you, visit Providers page.

Contact us if you have any questions.