FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CONSULTATION
- Which exam should I take with me for the consultation?
In the case of a first consultation, recent X-rays and MRI or CT scan would be required.
In the case of a follow-up, you should bring the last prescribed exams, and also the previous ones to compare.
- What is the purpose of the consultation?
The consultation is an essential moment.
It has two purposes:
- Establish a diagnosis
- Identify the best treatment for each patient
THE SURGERY
- How long will be the hospital stay?
It depends from one procedure to another and from one patient to another.
For example kyphoplasty for fractures and disc herniation can be performed in ambulatory, meaning you don't have to spend a night in the clinic.
More complex procedures like fusion or lumbar disc replacement may require a few days in the clinic.
As soon as patients are able to stand up and walk by themselves, they may get back home.
- How long is the surgery?
Surgery may last from 20 minutes for a fracture treatment up to several hours for more complexe procedures like multilevel fusion or lumbar disc arthroplasty.
A lumbar disc herniation surgery for example takes about 40 minutes.
- Y a t il un risque de paralysie, ou de "finir en fauteuil roulant" si je ne me fais pas opérer rapidement?
Non dans l'immense majorité des cas.
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Les pathologies dégénératives de la colonne vertébrale n'aboutissent pas à une paralysie des deux membres inférieurs.
Certaines pathologies assez spécifiques et peu fréquentes cependant peuvent menacer les fonctions neurologiques comme une myélopathie cervicarthrosique, une hernie discale thoracique, fractures complexes et instables, ou certaines pathologies tumorales.
L'indication de chirurgie est a évaluer précisément, en prenant en compte les critères cliniques et radiologiques.
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Attention cependant: une perte de force significative dans les membres liée à une compression d'une racine nerveuse ou de la moelle épinière, nécessite une prise en charge chirurgicale rapide pour éviter une séquelle définitive.
- Quels sont les risques de l'opération?
Les risques de survenue d'une complication sont variables en fonction du type de chirurgie et des patients, mais restent minimes.
On peut les classifier ainsi:
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- Les risques liés à l'anesthésie générale
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- Les risques communs à toute opération, peu importe le site opératoire: infection, hématome.
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- Les risques spécifiques à la chirurgie de la colonne vertébrale: risque neurologique. Bien qu'existant, le risque neurologique est minimal. Les techniques et les précautions mises en place permettent de réduire ce risque.
A noter par exemple que lors d'une chirurgie de hernie discale lombaire, on travail à un niveau de la colonne assez éloigné de la moelle épinière. La moelle descendant jusqu'à la première vertèbre lombaire, les hernies discales étant en grande majorité aux deux derniers étages entre la quatrième, cinquième vertèbre lombaire et le sacrum.
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Dans le cas de survenue d'une complication, le plus important est de diagnostiquer, et de prendre en charge de façon adéquate cette complication.
Dans l'immense majorité des cas la survenue d'une complication ne compromet pas le résultat final d'une intervention.
AFTER THE SURGERY
- Will I be able to walk after surgery?
Yes, you will be able to stand up and walk the day of the surgery, or the day after.
- Will I be allowed to sit after surgery?
Yes. Although in some situations like fusion of the lower lumbar spine, 90° sitting position should be avoided during a few weeks to minimize constrains on the construct, and a "beach chair" position would rather be recommended.
- How often wound dressings should be done?
Wound dressings should be done every two days by a nurse. The wound takes between 2 to 3 weeks to be completely healed. Sutures are absorbables in most cases, and can be removed by the nurse at 3 weeks postoperative if still presents.
The wound must not be wet until the skin is completely healed.
- When will I be allowed to go back to sports and physical activity?
Simple daily activities are allowed the first days after surgery. Walking, climbing stairs, ride a car as a passenger are allowed early.
Return to mild physical activities and sports is allowed from 3 weeks after surgery in simple surgeries, and from 3 months after surgery for spinal fusions.
Return to intense physical activities and sports is allowed from 6 weeks after surgery in simple surgeries, and from 3 to 6 months after surgery for spinal fusions.
- When will I be allowed to return to work after surgery?
Pour un travail sans activité physique, une reprise est autorisée à partir de 3 semaines dans la majorité des cas, et à partir de 6 semaines en cas d’arthrodèse.
For jobs without physical tasks, return to work is possible from 3 weeks in most surgeries, and from 6 weeks in cases of spinal fusion.
For jobs with physical tasks, return to work is possible from 6 weeks in most surgeries, and from 3 to 6 months after spinal fusion.
- When will I be able to get back in a car? As a passenger / as a driver
You will be allowed to get back in the car as a passenger in the days after the surgery.
Driving on another hand will be allowed from 3 / 4 weeks after the surgery.
- Will I need rehabilitation with a physiotherapist after the surgery?
There is no need for rehabilitation in the first weeks following spine surgery in most cases.
Physiotherapy might be necessary in the months following the surgery, but has to be started after all the tissues are healed.