The most common type of Spine Surgery

by | Aug 3, 2025 | Spinal Surgery Mexico

The most common type of spine surgery is lumbar decompression, often performed to relieve pressure on spinal nerves and stabilize the spine.

Lumbar Decompression

The most common type of spine surgery is lumbar decompression, often performed to relieve pressure on spinal nerves and stabilize the spine. This procedure is frequently used to address conditions like spinal stenosis and disc herniation, which can cause pain, numbness, and weakness.

According to patient symptoms, Dr. Salmon decides whether they need only decompression or stabilization at the same time. Not all patients need hardware to get decompression, but a lot of patients need stabilization after decompression.

In cases where a patient requires hardware due to their lumbar condition, Dr. Salmon prefers to use COSMIC-MIA (Minimally Invasive Access), a dynamic system utilized in spinal surgery, particularly for the thoracolumbar junction and lumbar regions.

It employs a rod-screw system with a unique hinge joint between the screw head and screw thread, allowing for flexion and extension movement while stabilizing the spine. This approach is designed to share the load between the implant and the spinal column, potentially preserving natural movement and offering better results than those of fusion. For young patients, it’s much better to preserve motion. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

a) Dynamic Stabilization: Unlike traditional fusion, which aims to immobilize a spinal segment completely, COSMIC-MIA allows for some degree of movement, potentially promoting better long-term spinal function. b) Minimally Invasive: The system can be used with minimally invasive surgical techniques, potentially leading to smaller incisions, reduced tissue damage, and faster recovery times compared to open surgery. c) Rod-Screw System: COSMIC-MIA utilizes pedicle screws and a rod to stabilize the spine, but with a special hinge mechanism that allows for controlled flexion-extension movement. d) Indications: It’s primarily used for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine, such as spinal stenosis and disc degeneration, where dynamic stabilization is desired. It´s a very good option for disc disease with lumbar pain without radiculopathy or sciatic pain. e) Clinical Experience: The COSMIC system has a long clinical history, with over 20 years of use.

*Credit: Dr. Mario Salmon Franz, MD, FACS, and Ulrich Medical MIA