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The Best Kind of Back Support is Spine Care Close to Home

When you need treatment for spinal problems, even the thought of traveling out-of-state for care can be painful. At RWJBarnabas Health, our team of orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons work with you to create a personalized treatment plan, right here in your own community. We offer non-surgical treatments such as pain management, hot and cold therapy and trigger point injections. And if you do need surgery, we also offer the latest techniques such as reconstruction and minimally invasive robotic surgery.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery makes it possible to access the bones of the spine through small incisions, causing less post-operative pain and leading to a faster recovery. Through top-of-the-line technology, our board-certified neurosurgeons can now access the spine using the smallest incisions possible, minimizing any damage to surrounding muscles and other tissues. By contrast, traditional, open spine surgery starts with a long incision down the back and then manipulating or removing the adjacent muscles and soft tissues to access the problem area of the back.

During minimally invasive spine surgery, your surgeon will access the problem area of your back through very small incisions, through which a tubular retractor will create a tunnel to pass small tools and instruments, to work on the spine. A special operating microscope called a fluoroscope is guided through an endoscope, to allow your surgical team to view the X-ray images of the spine in real time, to ensure the utmost accuracy. The tiny video camera attached to the endoscope projects an internal view of the patient’s body onto a TV screen in the operating room. Once the procedure is done, the incisions are closed with sutures and covered with surgical tape.

A minimally invasive technique can be utilized for the following spinal surgeries:

  • Microsurgical neurological care
  • Endoscopic spine surgery
  • Spinal stabilization
  • Spinal fusion
  • Disc arthroplasty
  • Motion preservation
  • Disc replacement
  • Repair of herniated discs
  • Deformity corrections
  • Decompression of spinal tumors
  • Repair of vertebral compression fractures

Patient Stories

Paul RussoRocky Volpe
Rocky Volpe of Freehold is the first to admit that he’s put his body through a lot over his 76 years. “I’ve picked up all sorts of jobs that require heavy lifting,” he says. “Over time, the strain on my back and vertebrae has taken its toll.” He’s had several operations across the decades at a variety of hospitals. Most recently, he found himself suffering from intense neck pain that radiated down his shoulders, along with numbness in the fingers of his left hand and gait instability that made everyday activities such as walking a significant challenge.

Ida WilliamsMaria Caputo
Maria Caputo’s neck had bothered her ever since her car was rear-ended on the New Jersey Turnpike more than 20 years ago. “I had chronic pain every day, and I just dealt with it by trying different pain management techniques,” says Caputo, 50, who lives in Rumson and works as Director of Government Relations at MMC. Approaches she sought for relief included physical therapy, epidural injections, trigger point injections, chiropractic, acupuncture, back massagers and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. None of them fully resolved her pain.

Donald EstelleKristen Deeken, RN
The first half of 2020 didn’t get off to a good start for Kristen Deeken, RN, an Emergency Department nurse at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH). First, her beloved godson died from a seizure. Then, Kristen, 40, of Woodbridge contracted COVID-19. Fortunately, she overcame the virus after three harrowing weeks. Eventually, life returned to normal, and Kristen, who was engaged, began planning her long-awaited summer wedding. In July, she experienced piercing back pain and weakness in her legs and lower body. She even had trouble urinating.

Rosemary BrandLourenza Mejia
Lourenza Mejia didn’t want spine surgery. “I put it off for more than three years,” says the Hamilton Township resident. She wrestled with a dilemma that many people who are pondering surgery must address: At what point does pain, decreasing quality of life or the threat of poor health in the future make a significant procedure the best path forward? Looking back, Lourenza is certain about her decision. “I love to tell my story,” she says. “If you have any spinal problem, don’t hesitate to see my surgeon and have him solve it.”

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