1. Understanding Laser Spine
Treatment Options

2. If you’re considering undergoing some form of laser spine treatment for your
back or neck pain, it’s important to discuss your available options with a
doctor. Not all laser treatments are the same, and the procedure or
procedures you may be a candidate for will depend largely on your specific
spine condition; the region of the spine that is affected; and the severity,
frequency, and location of symptoms.
Although laser spine procedures vary, they do generally share a common goal:
to relieve pain caused by irritated, compressed, or inflamed nerves in the
spine. This nerve pain often is caused by pressure being placed on the spinal
cord or a nerve root that has been compressed by an anatomical abnormality,
such as a bulging or herniated disc, bone spur, calcified ligament, or displaced
vertebra. Decompression is typically achieved by removing a portion of bone
or soft tissue.
Laser procedures are performed endoscopically, which means an endoscope
(camera), laser, and small surgical tools are funneled through a series of tubes
that have been inserted into a small incision in the neck or back. This method
offers patients a much less invasive alternative to open spine surgery.

3. Types of Laser Spine Procedures
As mentioned previously, there are a variety of laser spine treatment options that may be available to
you. These procedures include:
• Foraminotomy – This procedure involves the removal of vertebral bone that forms a foramen, or a
passageway on either side of a vertebral segment through which spinal nerve roots exit as they
branch off the spinal cord. Removing a portion of bone, or clearing out degenerated disc material,
can help to widen a foramen and relieve pressure placed on a compressed nerve root.
• Laminotomy – Similar to a foraminotomy, a laminotomy also involves the removal of vertebral
bone. In this case, a portion of the thin, bony plates that form laminae are removed. Laminae are
situated between the spinous and articular processes on vertebrae and form a protective arch
around the posterior (back) side of the spinal cord. Removal of lamina bone can help to widen the
spinal canal and relieve pressure placed on a compressed spinal cord.
• Endoscopic discectomy – This procedure focuses on removing a portion of bulging or herniated disc
material. The disc material can either be vaporized by a laser or excised with surgical tools,
depending on a patient’s specific situation. A discectomy can relieve the pressure placed on a nerve
root or the spinal cord caused by a degenerative disc.
• Facet thermal ablation – While the procedures previously mentioned are true decompression
procedures, facet thermal ablation takes a slightly different approach. Instead of removing bone or
disc tissue to relieve pressure on a pinched neural structure, this procedure deadens painful medial
branch nerves that innervate a facet joint. These delicate nerves can become irritated by the
inflammation, bone spurs, and grinding movements that characterize spinal osteoarthritis.

4. Additional Options
Additionally, some laser spine facilities may even offer intervertebral
disc regeneration and minimally invasive spine stabilization
procedures. The disc regeneration process involves low-level laser
decompression to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or a nerve root,
then the injection of your own stem cells (undifferentiated cells that
are capable of differentiating into specialized cell types) to help
promote healing and repair of a deteriorating disc.
Minimally invasive spine stabilization involves the same endoscopic
techniques used in the laser spine treatment options described earlier,
but includes the complete removal of a bulging or herniated disc, and
the placement of a supportive implant, bone graft material, screws,
and rods to effectively stabilize the spine.

5. Before You Consent to Surgery
Except in emergency situations, it’s unlikely that your
doctor will recommend any surgery, let alone laser spine
treatment, as a first option. In fact, your doctor will
probably initially recommend that you complete a course
of conservative, nonsurgical treatments. Conservative
methods are widely regarded throughout the mainstream
medical community as effective options for symptom
relief. Some of the most common therapies include non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain medication,
physical therapy, low-impact exercise, hot/cold therapy,
and others.

6. Ask Your Doctor
If several weeks or
months of conservative
treatments fail to relieve
your back or neck pain,
laser spine treatment
may become an option.
Check with your doctor,
and contact a laser spine
facility, regarding your
candidacy for laser
surgery.