Chronic back or neck pain from trauma, tumors or infection can significantly impact your quality of life. When treating the symptoms isn’t enough, spine surgery may be necessary. At Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care, residents of New York have immediate access to spine experts and advanced treatment approaches.

What Is Spine Surgery?

There are many types of spine surgery. Each aims to correct problems in the spinal column that cause pain or limit function. Neurosurgeons at Weill Cornell Medicine specialize in both minimally invasive and open surgical techniques, including:

Discectomy. Herniated discs occur when a spinal disc moves out of place and leaks its gel-like interior. This may cause pain, numbness and weakness. Discectomy provides relief by removing the damaged disc.
Foraminotomy. If the opening in your spinal column narrows, it can compress nerves in the spinal cord. This may cause pain, walking problems and other symptoms. During foraminotomy, a spine surgeon widens the opening in the spinal column to relieve pressure on the nerves passing through the spine.
Laminectomy. The lamina is part of your vertebral bone and can press against spinal nerves. A laminectomy removes the lamina, bone spurs or soft tissue to give more room for nerves. Laminectomy can help when you experience pain, weakness or difficulty with bladder or bowel control due to pressure on spinal nerves.
Spinal fusion. When injury, infection, or other conditions cause your spine to become unstable, spinal fusion may be helpful. The procedure fuses two bones in the spine. Afterward, you can no longer move these bones of the spine independently from one another.

With each of these surgeries, you receive general anesthesia beforehand. This ensures you remain asleep and feel no pain during surgery.

Conditions We Treat With Spine Surgery

The spine specialists of Och Spine at NewYork-Presbyterian at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center provide comprehensive care for the full spectrum of spinal conditions, including:

When Spine Surgery Is Necessary

We take a thorough, patient-centered approach to each case. Before heading to the operating room, the team at Weill Cornell Medicine determines an accurate diagnosis. They perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and health history. They may also prescribe imaging tests, such as MRI, CT or X-ray.

Once you have a diagnosis, your care team develops a treatment plan. In emergency situations, surgery may be necessary immediately. Otherwise, your team will recommend other, less invasive treatment approaches first. Spine surgery is recommended if these treatments fail and your issue continues to affect your daily life.

Why Choose Weill Cornell Medicine

Advanced Surgical Techniques

The renowned neurosurgeons at Weill Cornell Medicine offer a complete range of surgical solutions. We offer the most advanced minimally invasive techniques, including lateral access surgery. This allows us to perform surgery through smaller incisions in the side, dramatically shortening recovery time. When appropriate, we also use open techniques for complex reconstructive spine surgery.

Multidisciplinary Expertise

Throughout your journey, our neurosurgeons collaborate with colleagues from various specialties. Team members who may be part of your multidisciplinary care team come from the following areas:

Together, these experts provide a complete continuum of care, from diagnosis to treatment to recovery.

Make an Appointment

Thanks to Weill Cornell Medicine’s multiple locations, accessing excellent spine care is always convenient.

Call (866) 426-7787, or request an appointment online.

Your Spine Surgery Care Team

When you turn to Weill Cornell Medicine for spine surgery, our expertise, experience and compassion help you reduce symptoms and move toward improved quality of life.

Meet our caring team of neurosurgeons.