When does a person need back surgery?
If you seek treatment for back pain at Yale Neurosurgery New London, Dr. Doherty and his team first explore all of your nonsurgical treatment options with you. They take the time to educate you about your back pain, using models and other tools to help you understand both the cause of your pain and how your treatment options work.
When noninvasive treatment options don’t bring you pain relief, they start the process of exploring back surgery with you. Some of the common reasons people elect to have back surgery include:
- Ruptured or herniated discs
- Vertebrae fractures
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spinal stenosis
Whether your back pain stems from a problem with your vertebrae, your spinal column, or your discs — which cushion your vertebrae — Dr. Doherty and his team are available to talk with you about how surgery can address the issue.
To ensure you can get the targeted surgery you need with minimal risks and less downtime, Dr. Doherty offers robotic surgery when appropriate.
What is robotic back surgery?
At Yale Neurosurgery New London, Dr. Doherty and his staff, consisting of an additional surgeon and two physician assistants, use ExcelsiusGPS® robotic back surgery technology. The robotic arm of this technology allows Dr. Doherty to perform your back surgery with greater precision thanks to the built-in navigation capabilities and accuracy of the arm itself.
Not only does this improve the results of your surgery, but it also allows Dr. Doherty to perform your procedure in a less invasive way. Greater precision means he can work through smaller incisions and confine the surgical site to as small an area as possible. This expedites your recovery time while minimizing the risk of complications.
What should I expect during and after back surgery?
When you choose Yale Neurosurgery New London, you can expect dedicated care from an expert team of providers. Dr. Doherty and his staff take a patient-centered approach, blending personalized care with the latest back surgery innovations available today. They talk with you about your specific procedure and what it will entail, helping you understand the surgery itself and your recovery period.
After your surgery, the Yale Neurosurgery New London team offers post-operative care to maximize your recovery.
For top-tier surgical care, call Yale Neurosurgery New London or request your appointment online today.
