Nerve Decompression Surgery

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There are hundreds of nerves located throughout your body, each serving the essential purpose of enabling sensation in the arms, legs, spine and more. This allows you to walk, lift objects, stand upright, and perform all other daily activities. However, a condition known as pinched nerve can limit range of motion, as well as cause overall numbness and/or weakness in the affected area. This is where nerve decompression surgery comes in.

Nerve decompression surgery is any operation to alleviate pressure on a nerve. Some nerves are more prone to compression than others due to the surrounding skeletal structure. The aim of nerve decompression is to either remove whatever is pressing on the nerve or open up any narrow spaces to give the nerve more room, or both.

Nerve decompression surgery can be thought of as two subtypes: spinal and peripheral. Spinal decompression surgery is in response to conditions caused by pressure on nerve roots in the spine, such as herniated discs and spinal stenosis. Peripheral nerve decompression is for conditions that begin somewhere other than the spine, such as the wrist in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome or the elbow for cubital tunnel syndrome.

Your orthopedic physician performs a thorough diagnosis to determine the cause of pinched nerve and evaluate your candidacy for nerve decompression surgery. Under general anesthesia, a small incision is made above the compressed nerve and the soft tissues are moved aside to access it. A small portion of the bone is removed over the nerve to provide it with adequate space to perform its healthy function. Once the problem is resolved, the incision is closed with minimal stitching.

 

REFERENCES

https://smgortho.com/procedure/nerve-decompression-surgery/

https://coastalorthopedics.com/what-is-nerve-decompression/

https://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/pain/neuropathic/diabetic-neuropathy/nerve-decompression-surgery-can-reverse-neuropathy-foot