Spinal surgery in Bolton

Many issues with your spine can be managed without surgery. However, if you have persistent symptoms that have not improved with treatment options physiotherapy, medication, or steroid injections.

At The Beaumont Hospital we have a dedicated team of spinal pain specialists on-site throughout the week to help manage and even eliminate your pain. We offer a range of sophisticated diagnostic testing and effective treatment options for debilitating spinal pain, including tailored surgery to treat nerve damage, such as nerve decompression surgery.

The Beaumont Hospital is located in Bolton in Greater Manchester. People visit us from across Lancashire and the North West, from local areas including Wigan, Bury, Chorley, Leigh, Worsley and Burnley. We also welcome patients from across the UK as well as abroad. When you go private, you can choose which hospital and which consultant are the best fit for you.

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure during which two or more vertebrae (the small bones that form your spine) are fused together so that they form a single, strong bone. The surgery reduces pain and restores stability to your spine.

When is spinal fusion recommended?

Some of the conditions relieved by spinal fusion surgery include:

• Spinal infections
• Fractured vertebrae are a result of trauma
• Spine tumours
• Degenerative spine conditions, such as spinal stenosis and herniated discs
• Spinal deformities, such as scoliosis or deformities caused by conditions such as spondylolisthesis

What happens during spinal fusion surgery?

Depending on which part of your spine is affected, spinal fusion surgery can be performed in your lumbar (lower back) area, or your cervical area (around your neck).

Your surgeon may also choose to approach the surgery either from the front, the back, or laterally. Depending on their preferred approach, they will make an incision in your lower abdomen or in the front of your neck, or down the middle of your lower back. Your consultant will use a bone graft and place it between your vertebrae to help them heal together. Your surgeon may also fix your spine with plates and screws.

Depending on whether a nerve is compressed, your surgeon may also perform nerve decompression surgery at the same time as fusion surgery.

Benefits and risks of the surgery

People who require spinal fusion surgery usually find movement painful. By fusing two vertebrae together, spinal fusion prevents motion in that area, which reduces pain. The procedure also stops your nerves and ligaments around the painful area from stretching and causing symptoms.

Spinal fusion may reduce the flexibility of your spine or its range of motion. However, the procedure is usually performed on small segments of your spine, so most people do not notice this decrease in their mobility in everyday life.

Spinal fusion surgery carries the small general risks of any surgery, as well as specific risks. Possible risks and complications include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Blood clots
• Anaesthesia risks
• Pain at the site where your vertebrae were fused together
• Persisting symptoms
• Your bones not fusing together properly

Your recovery after spinal fusion surgery

After surgery, you may have to wear a brace to help keep your spine stable and protected as it heals. You may be prescribed NSAIDs or opioids to help you manage the pain from the surgery.

You will start a physiotherapy program after surgery. This will help you keep your spine aligned in the right position and your bones to heal. Full healing of the fused vertebrae can take several months, so it is always best to discuss your recovery timeline with your consultant, who will understand your personal circumstances and be able to offer specific information based on this.

Spinal decompression surgery is recommended when pinched nerves in your back are causing you intense pain and limited mobility. We offer two types of spinal decompression surgery:

Laminectomy

Laminectomy is usually recommended for:

• Herniated discs in your lumbar, or lower back area, which can cause lower back pain and leg pain, or sciatica
• Spinal stenosis (a condition in which age-related wear and tear causes your spinal canal to narrow). Your spinal canal contains spinal nerves and your spinal cord. The narrowing of your spinal canal can cause leg pain, sciatica, and lower back pain, as well as weakness or numbness across your various parts of your body

Laminectomy might be recommended if non-surgical treatment does not help within twelve weeks.

What happens during a laminectomy?

During the procedure, your surgeon will remove a small portion of your lumbar disc from under the compressed nerve root to give the nerve more space. This will reduce the pain and eliminate any other symptoms such as numbness or weakness. Laminectomy is sometimes performed together with spinal fusion.

Benefits and risks

Most people who undergo lumbar laminectomy have good to excellent results. Symptoms, particularly leg pain, are relieved by surgery. The risks of the procedure include small, general risks from surgery and specific risks of laminectomy. These include:

• Blood clots
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Anaesthesia risks
• A dural tear, which is a tear of the sac that covers the nerves
• Nerve injury
• Need for additional surgery
• Persisting or recurring symptoms

Your recovery after a laminectomy

You will usually return home from hospital within a few days of having a laminectomy. You may return to your normal activities and your job within weeks to months. This depends on how physically demanding your job is, your age, and your overall health. During this time, you will have to wear a brace and follow your physiotherapy programme to strengthen your back.

Discectomy is usually recommended for lumbar pain and sciatica caused by a herniated disc. During the procedure, a small bit of the herniated disc over the nerve root will be removed. This can be done as an open surgery, or endoscopically (a minimally invasive, keyhole technique).

When is it recommended?

If your sciatica pain does not resolve within six to 12 weeks, or if the pain is so severe that you find it difficult to sleep, work, or perform daily activities, and MRI scans show a herniated disc, it may be time for a discectomy.

What happens during a discectomy?

During a discectomy, your consultant will use minimally invasive instruments to make a small incision in the middle of your lower back. They will gently move the nerve root to the side and remove the fragment of the disc that has slipped out. They will then close the wound with bandages.

Benefits and risks of the surgery

Most people who have had the surgery report good to excellent results and an improvement in symptoms. Risks of a lumbar discectomy include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Nerve injury
• Anaesthesia risks
• Recurrent symptoms and the need for another surgery
• Dural tears

Your recovery after a discectomy

You may have to spend the night in the hospital for a discectomy, although most procedures are performed on a day-case basis, meaning you can return home on the same day. You will be encouraged to walk within hours after surgery, and you may be required to wear a back brace. You will also need tailored physiotherapy to strengthen your back.

At The Beaumont Hospital in Bolton, you'll be seen quickly and treated efficiently by our multidisciplinary teams of specialists.

Our hospital boasts newly refurbished facilities, modern diagnostic facilities, and comfortable ensuite hospital rooms. Our team of well-established spinal surgeons are dedicated to ensuring you make a speedy recovery.

The Beaumont also offers a comprehensive aftercare package following your surgery and flexible payment options that make the cost of private spinal surgery more affordable than you might think.

Book an appointment with one of our consultants to discuss if spinal surgery is right for you. You can book an appointment online or by phoning a member of our advisory team.