Did You Know?

What is the least invasive procedure that is offered to treat nerve compression caused by a bone spur?

  • Laminectomy
    While a laminectomy procedure may be performed to treat a bone spur, traditional open laminectomy requires a large incision and much cutting and tearing of muscle and tissues so that the surgeon can gain access to the affected area. Try again
  • Spinal Fusion
    Although treatment for bone spurs may be accomplished through a spinal fusion procedure, it is in no way minimally invasive in nature. Coupled with a long recovery time and wait to see if the fusion was successful, spinal fusion treatment for a bone spur is not the right choice. Try Again
  • Endoscopic Foraminotomy
    An endoscopic foraminotomy or foraminoplasty is the least invasive form of surgery available for the treatment of a bone spur. The bone spur can be effectively removed with motorized burr and laser. With the use of endoscopic techniques the incision is kept small. Most surgeries are same day procedure, with local anesthesia and minimal loss of blood. The recovery time is minimal. For more information about how an endoscopic foraminotomy procedure is performed click here.

What is a Bone Spur?

Bone spurs (osteophytes) refer to bony overgrowths. Bone spurs commonly occur in the back of the spine, and they are prominent in older people. Bone spurs can compress surrounding nerve structure and cause pain and nerve related symptoms.

Symptoms of a Bone Spur

Bone spurs in themselves are not actually painful, it is the effect they have on surrounding structures. Unless located on an X-ray you will not know about a bone spur until it has become large enough to cause pain by pressing on a nearby nerve. A pinched nerve caused by a bone spur may present symptoms of numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the area of the body that nerve runs to. Generally speaking, when a bone spur affects a nerve in your neck you will experience symptoms in your shoulders, arms, and hands, where as if it is your lower back that is affected you would likewise experience these symptoms in your buttocks, legs, and possibly feet. Facet joint bone spurs causes neck and low back pain when facet joints move.

What causes a Bone Spur?

There are a few different reasons why a bone spur develops. First and foremost a bone spur can develop naturally over time as we age, which is why they seem to be so much more common in the elderly. They may also be caused by trauma and other degenerative factors; the body’s natural defense to instability is to grow more bone to correct it. Unfortunately it is when too much bone develops and begins putting pressure on surrounding nerves that the bone spur becomes a problem.

Treatment Options for Bone Spurs

Conservative treatment options for bone spurs ranges from anti-inflammatory medications to physical therapy and activity modification. If these fail to provide you with relief the next best treatment would be to undergo a surgical procedure called an endoscopic spinal foraminotomy.

With the use of an endoscope the spinal nerve is located and protected while the spinal bone spur is removed using a laser or a mechanical tool. To learn more about the endoscopic spinal foraminotomy procedure and see if you may be a candidate click here.

How Can We Help

Atlantic Spinal Care has been successfully treating Bone Spurs in hundreds of patients every year. If you are interested in learning more about how Atlantic Spinal Care can help you relieve the pain you suffer as a result of Bone Spurs please consider one or more of the following options: