Laser Spine Institute Procedures: Instrumentation at a Glance

As CEO of the fastest growing spinal surgery center in the world, I understand the implications of naming our facility the Laser Spine Institute.  While using the word "laser" in the title may help associate us with "cutting edge technology" and "innovation", it does bring a limitation that does not fully and accurately illustrate the success and abilities of our surgeons and their minimally invasive endoscopic surgical procedures.

I've spoken with numerous prospective patients who have told me that after asking their family doctor or neurosurgeon about LSI they were told that we wouldn't be able to help because "the physician said that I have spinal stenosis brought on by bone spurs and the laser can't cut through bone."  However, these physicians are assuming that we only perform procedures that rely solely on lasers.  I am thankful that these prospective patients have taken the initiative to contact us to learn more about our techniques because the information they are receiving, while precise about instrumentation, is incorrect regarding LSI procedures.  Of course, the laser used in spinal surgery cannot cut through bone.  With laser, the energy required to vaporize bone would be very high. This amount of energy would generate too much heat, which would not be conducive to the area in which surgery is performed, i.e. the spinal cord and nerves. It is for this reason that we do not use laser on bone.

 Being a former back pain sufferer and as someone who was skeptical and anxious about undergoing surgery, I understand the need to have your concerns addressed.  However, the majority of physicians delivering this information to their patients about the Laser Spine Institute are unaware that our surgeons do have the instrumentation and the ability to remove bony material from the spinal canal, the foraminal canals, and the facet joint structures.  Our world class, professionally trained surgeons use a specialized tool called a rongeur, a strongly constructed instrument with sharp-edged, scoop-shaped tips used for carving out bone.   With this instrumentation, LSI has the advantage of being able to treat spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, bone spurs and facet arthritis, while still working through a series of dilating tubes and an incision less than one inch.  It's just one more way we can provide the most relief with such a minimally invasive approach.