Understanding Laser Back Surgery
What Patients in Sugar Land, TX Need to Know
Laser back surgery is a term often encountered online and in advertisements, but it refers to a rare and narrowly applicable technique in modern spine surgery. Unlike traditional open surgery or minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), laser procedures are limited in scope and lack the strong clinical support that other spine surgeries provide.
At Texas Spine & Neurosurgery in Sugar Land, Dr. Rajesh Bindal, a board-certified neurosurgeon, focuses on offering safe, effective, and evidence-based spine treatments. Laser spine surgery is only used in very specific cases, when it offers a distinct advantage—something rarely encountered in typical spinal conditions.
What Is Laser Back Surgery?
Laser back surgery involves using focused laser energy to remove or shrink soft tissue near the spinal cord or nerve roots. The laser may be used to treat:
- Herniated disc material
- Scar tissue
- Specific soft tissue tumors
It is important to note that laser surgery is not a standard treatment for most patients with back or neck pain, and its benefits over other surgical methods are not well established in the medical literature.
How the Procedure Works
Laser spine procedures are typically done under local anesthesia and sedation. During the procedure:
- A small incision is made in the back.
- A laser probe is inserted under imaging guidance.
- The laser energy is applied to remove or vaporize soft tissue pressing on a nerve.
This approach differs significantly from standard minimally invasive procedures, which often use surgical tools, microscopes, and advanced navigation systems to decompress nerves or stabilize the spine.
Example: Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression (PLDD)
One of the few studied laser techniques is percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD). This method involves:
- Inserting a thin probe with a laser into the center of the affected spinal disc
- Using laser energy to shrink the disc material, relieving pressure on nearby nerves
Although PLDD has been performed for decades, data supporting its effectiveness is limited, and it is generally reserved for very select cases.
Why Laser Spine Surgery Is Rare
At Texas Spine & Neurosurgery, Dr. Bindal emphasizes that:
- Most patients benefit more from evidence-based options like minimally invasive decompression, discectomy, or fusion
- Lasers are not routinely necessary for common spinal conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease
- Marketing often oversells laser surgery while failing to show any clinical advantage over other techniques
Schedule a Spine Consultation in Sugar Land, TX
If you’re considering back surgery or exploring treatment options for chronic back pain, it’s important to make decisions based on clinical outcomes—not hype. Dr. Rajesh Bindal will review your symptoms and imaging to recommend the most effective and safest treatment option tailored to your condition.
Call 281-313-0031 today to schedule a consultation at Texas Spine & Neurosurgery in Sugar Land, TX, and receive the expert care you deserve.