What is it?
Laser back surgery is relatively rare, and there are few clinical studies that have demonstrated benefits compared to other methods. It's different from other types of back surgery, such as traditional back surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS).
During the Procedure:
During laser back surgery, a laser is used to remove portions of tissue located around the spinal cord and nerves of the back. This is done under local anesthesia, which means that the skin and surrounding muscles of your back will be numbed to pain. You may also be sedated for the procedure.
Other Types of Laser Back Surgery:
One of the more well-studied methods of laser back surgery is called percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD). This procedure uses a laser to remove disc tissue that may be causing nerve compression and pain.
During PLDD, a small probe containing a laser is passed into the core of the affected disc. This is accomplished with the help of imaging technology. Then, the energy from the laser is used to carefully remove tissue that may be pressing on the nerve.