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Revision Spine Surgery in Orange County, CA (Mission Viejo)

Board-certified neurosurgeon Alexander Taghva, M.D., F.A.A.N.S., specializes in intricate revision surgery and provides significant improvements to patients’ quality of life while using minimally invasive techniques. Call our Mission Viejo office now to schedule your appointment:
949-388-7190

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Benefits of Revision Spine Surgery

Revision spinal surgery in Orange County offers patients restoration of spinal movement and improved comfort with minimally invasive spinal surgery options. Revision spinal surgery also has more benefits:

Pain Reduction and Realignment

With precise realignment of the lumbar or cervical regions, this surgery can eliminate or drastically reduce chronic pain, paving the way for a more active and enjoyable life.

Enhanced Mobility and Stability

By addressing underlying issues such as disc and joint degeneration, revision surgery not only improves flexibility but also restores essential spinal stability, allowing for renewed movement and strength.

Minimally Invasive, Maximum Relief

Advanced minimally invasive techniques speed up recovery, minimize discomfort, and alleviate the heavy reliance on pain medication, offering a smoother post-surgical journey with less impact on daily life.

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Revision spinal surgery in Mission Viejo, CA, offers relief for individuals suffering from new as well as recurring spine conditions after a prior operation. While all spine surgery is complex, revision surgery is usually even more invasive and complicated than the initial procedure. Board-certified neurosurgeon Alexander Taghva, M.D., F.A.A.N.S., specializes in intricate revision surgery and provides significant improvements to patients’ quality of life while using minimally invasive techniques.

What is Revision Spine Surgery?

Dr. Taghva performs revision spine surgery in Mission Viejo, CA, to treat symptoms like numbness, pain, and reduced mobility after one or more previous spinal surgeries. He may recommend secondary surgery with minimally invasive technology for issues mainly for:

Spinal Fusion Failure (pseudarthrosis) – Fusion creates a permanent union between two or more vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine using a bone graft or hardware. The bone graft or device must bond with the spine to form a solid unit and eliminate movement between the vertebrae. Spinal fusion failure can occur within the first month after the original spinal surgery or years later. Diabetes, smoking, as well as taking corticosteroids can increase the risk of pseudarthrosis. A failure to bond, the type of hardware, or a lack of screws or plates can also play a role in spinal fusion failure.
Improper Placement of Spinal Implants
Hardware Malfunction
Adjacent Disc Degeneration

Other issues Revision Spine Surgery Can Treat

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis occurs most often in the lower back. Some patients require repeat surgery due to surgical complications, failure to achieve solid lumbar fusions, or persistent symptoms. Repeat surgery is often associated with age and additional health issues.

Incorrect Diagnosis

Referred pain causes chronic discomfort in a different spot from the actual abnormality and can lead to an incorrect initial diagnosis. It is essential to choose a skilled and attentive surgeon like Dr. Taghva, who has many years of experience and thoroughly evaluates each patient before performing revision spinal surgery.

Surgical Error

Surgical error is rare, but does occur occasionally. Dr. Taghva is available to patients who are looking for a second opinion and will evaluate the spine to determine if an error like inadequate decompression, screw malposition, epidural hematoma, or another medical issue occurred during the first surgery.

Spinal Instability from Infection, Trauma, or Degenerative Facet Disease

Degeneration of the facet joints can cause segmental instability that may require spinal fusion in the affected area years after the initial spinal surgery.

Herniated Disc Following Discectomy

Intervertebral disc herniation refers to a bulging, slipped or ruptured disc that can occur in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. A partial or full discectomy is performed to decompress nerve pressure. There is a 0.5-25% risk of another disc herniation after a successful first discectomy.

Call today to schedule your consultation

949-388-7190

Am I a Candidate for Revision Spinal Surgery?

Dr. Alexander Taghva determines each patient’s candidacy for revision spine surgery in Mission Viejo, CA, during a private consultation. When conservative treatments with medication or physical therapy do not significantly reduce or resolve the pain, revision surgery may be the answer.

Dr. Taghva considers the patient’s age, overall health, possible surgical risks, and other factors before recommending revision surgery. Patients who are suffering from one or more of the following symptoms after a back operation may benefit from revision surgery with Dr. Taghva:

Back pain that impairs quality of life or limits regular activity
Progressive neurological problems like leg weakness or numbness
Loss of healthy bladder or bowel functions
Difficulty walking or standing

Dr. Alexander Taghva determines each patient's candidacy for revision spine surgery in Mission Viejo, CA — Revision spinal surgery offers patients restoration of spinal movement and improved comfort with minimally invasive spinal surgery options.

How do I prepare for spinal revision surgery?

Dr. Taghva will provide you with a list of pre-surgical instructions. A healthy diet and exercise as mobility allows will help encourage a speedy recovery. Stop taking herbal supplements and Advil, Motrin, and aspirin two weeks before the surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding.

Testimonials

5 years ago I was sent to Dr. Taghva by my pain management specialist. He had very thorough tests done. He told me that it was his opinion that I had RSD aka CRPS. After much discussion with my pain specialist, I had a spinal cord stimulator implanted. I loved the relief it gave me. A few years later, I was back in Dr. Taghva’s office with excruciating pain that had spread. I was in so much pain that all I wanted was to not feel pain. Yes, I was ready to end my pain any way possible. Before doing anything drastic, I sought out help from Dr. Taghva, not really believing anything could help.…

5 stars
Susan H.

Revision Spine Surgery Consultation in Orange County

Patients must consult with Dr. Taghva to receive a customized treatment plan that may or may not involve revision surgery. Dr. Taghva examines each potential candidate during a private revision spinal surgery consultation in Mission Viejo.

The doctor may order X-rays, CT scans, or MRI imaging to determine if a failed fusion, bulging disk, faulty device, degeneration of the facet or intervertebral joints, scar tissue, or another spinal abnormality is causing the patient’s issues. He also reviews the patient’s health history to investigate other possible causes for chronic pain and numbness, such as diabetes, an autoimmune disorder, peripheral artery disease, or another medical issue.

Dr. Taghva utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to treating back pain that includes prevention and rehabilitation, physical therapy, pain management, and finally, minimally invasive spinal surgery only when necessary. If he determines that revision surgery is the best option for a patient, he will explain the surgery, the recovery, and the expected results in detail.

Up to 95% of patients experience no pain after revision surgery. Dr. Taghva uses minimally invasive technology, allowing his patients to walk on the same or the following day after the surgery and enjoy a full recovery of improved mobility without pain.

The Revision Spinal Procedure

Dr. Alexander Taghva customizes revision spinal surgery in Orange County to address each patient’s unique spinal pathology. As a specialist in minimally invasive surgical techniques, Dr. Taghva performs revision surgery using tiny incisions whenever possible for reduced trauma to the surrounding tissues and muscles. This allows for a quicker recovery and less pain following surgery.

Each patient receives the details of their surgery in advance, often during the initial consultation. Dr. Taghva completes revision surgery with general anesthesia for safety reasons but most of his patients return home the same day. One or more of the following surgical procedures may be included in revision surgery to help patients achieve significant relief:

Revision Lumbar Surgery

During revision lumbar surgery, Dr. Taghva creates a short, vertical incision along the spine in the lower back. He then gently moves the muscles away from the lower spine using minimally invasive technology to separate the fibers without cutting them. The area is held open with a retractor while the doctor inserts a light and a microscope. Dr. Taghva then removes all bony protrusions and the section of lamina covering the back of the spine to decompress the nerves.

Discectomy and Fusion

Discectomy may be performed to remove a crushed, herniated or damaged disc in the cervical (upper), thoracic (middle), as well as the lumbar (lower) sections of the spine. Once the damaged disc is removed, the doctor may place an artificial disc in the space between the vertebrae or perform spinal fusion surgery.

Spinal Fusion

After removing a herniated disc, Dr. Taghva may perform spinal fusion instead of artificial disc replacement. During fusion, he secures the adjacent vertebrae with metal plates or rods and places two bone grafts between the vertebrae in place of the disc. Spinal fusion is also performed during revision surgery to address osteoporosis or poor bone quality, expand or repair a prior fusion, stabilize the spine after removing a herniated disc, or address degeneration of the facet or intervertebral joints.

Cervical Revision Spine Surgery

Dr. Taghva will perform a cervical spine neck operation from the front (anterior) or the back (posterior) depending on the disc location. He may remove a section of the lamina and the disc herniation from a posterior approach. The posterior approach generally does not require surgical fusion. The doctor must stabilize the spine after the anterior removal of a disc. Spinal fusion is typically performed with a cervical plate, device, and screws, but an artificial cervical disc may be an option instead of spinal fusion.

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Recovering from Revision Spine Surgery

Patients will receive post-surgical spinal revision instructions during their consultation. Many spinal revision patients in Orange County and Long Beach, California, can stand and move around as soon as the evening of the surgery or the next day. Dr. Taghva provides his patients with self-directed rehabilitation instructions which include gentle stretching, walking, as well as movement to promote healing and mobility. Professional physical therapy generally begins most of the time after the first follow-up appointment.

Significant relief from pain and discomfort is typically experienced shortly after the surgery, but the recovery is usually longer than after a first-time surgery. The recovery expectations vary based on the symptoms, inflammation, and nerve compression. Dr. Taghva’s patients often experience continuous improvements over the weeks and months following revision surgery.

Dr. Alexander Taghva, MD, FAANS — Dr. Alexander Taghva – Board-Certified Neurosurgeon

Why Choose Dr. Alexander Taghva

Dr. Alexander Taghva is a leading board-certified neurosurgeon, specializing in brain surgery, endoscopic spine surgery, as well as spine disorders. Also, he is the only spine surgeon in Orange County and southern California who offers endoscopic laminotomy surgery. Dr. Taghva:

Graduated from John Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of California
Completed a prestigious fellowship at The Ohio State University in Neuromodulation and Functional Neurosurgery
Specializes in minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery, spinal stenosis, artificial disc replacement, spinal disorders, spinal surgery revision, and other spinal conditions.
Specializes in brain surgery to treat trigeminal neuralgia, brain tumors, pituitary tumors, and Parkinson’s disease.
A highly-respected neurosurgeon with many years of experience, including treating chronic pain via stimulation of the spinal cord and brain
Actively involved in medical research and the lead investigator for clinical trials on spinal cord stimulation

Revision Spine Surgery FAQs

What complications or risks are associated with spinal revision surgery?

The possible risks of revision spine surgery will be explained during your consultation and may include a reaction to anesthesia, infection, scars, bleeding, fusion failure, ongoing back pain, and complications based on the prior surgery. The risks associated with revision spinal surgery are greatly reduced under the care of highly-experienced neurosurgeons like Dr. Taghva.

Are there options other than revision surgery?

Revision surgery is typically a last resort. As a neurologist and orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Taghva evaluates the condition of the spine during the initial consultation to determine the best treatment options for the patient’s needs, which may include physical therapy and medication before surgery is recommended.

Non-surgical options for treating degenerative facet pain typically include joint injections or a nerve block. An injection of numbing medication and corticosteroid provides temporary relief of some back pain and may be repeated three to four times a year. Nerve blocks are often used without general anesthesia and utilize radiofrequency ablation to stop pain signals from the nerve fibers reaching the brain.

What are the facet joints?

Facet joints are hinge-like structures that link the vertebrae. Four facet joints surround each vertebra: two are connected to the upper vertebra, and two are connected to the lower vertebra. Facet joints are made up of two types of bone that smoothly respond to the other and are surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue for lubrication. Degenerative changes can cause inflammation and pain in the months or years following initial spinal surgery.

What causes cervical disc and spine damage after spine surgery?

First thing to remember is that age, injuries, arthritis, as well as other health conditions can cause cervical disc and spine damage, including herniation and bone spur development. Herniated discs and bone spurs cause a narrowing of the spinal canal, which leads to pressure on the nerve roots and creates extreme pain, tingling, and numbness in the arms and legs.

What is a disc?

Discs are spongy cushions that act as a buffer between each of the vertebrae in your spine. Cervical discs, thoracic discs, and lumbar discs are shock absorbers and are most important to stability and movement. Dr. Taghva may recommend surgery if you have a crushed or herniated disc or a degenerative disc disease.

What happens after revision spinal surgery?

Many patients return home immediately after revision surgery but may stay one or two nights when the revision procedure includes disc replacement. Dr. Taghva’s patients experience a quicker recovery due to the minimally invasive techniques he uses and are typically walk the evening of surgery or the following day.

How long is the recovery time after revision surgery?

The recovery after revision spinal surgery is similar to the original surgical recovery. Most patients are medically cleared to resume normal activities within two to three weeks. Dr. Taghva will provide you with an estimated timeline, as well as after-care instructions and activity restrictions.

How frequent are the follow-up appointments?

Follow-up spinal revision exams are, for the most part, performed after four to six weeks, again at three months, six months, and one year. Disc replacement and spinal fusion patients generally visit Dr. Taghva for follow-ups exams every one to two years after the initial appointment series is complete.

What Revision Spine Surgery office is near me?

If you live near Mission Viejo, CA, Dr. Taghva offers Revision Spine Surgery among its services, and is conveniently located at 26732 Crown Valley Pkwy Suite 541, Mission Viejo, CA 92691.