Overview
Revision surgery is any operation to address a problem after a previous spine surgery. Reasons include recurrent disc herniation, new or returning stenosis, a fusion that did not heal, hardware problems, instability or adjacent segment disease.
Because scar tissue and prior hardware make revision more complex, careful evaluation is needed to confirm that a surgical problem is causing your symptoms.
Watch and learn
Video: “Adjacent Segment Disease - Patient Animation” from Globus Medical on YouTube. It loads from youtube-nocookie.com only when you press play. Shown for general education; GSMC did not produce it. Watch on YouTube
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Who may be a candidate
- Imaging and exam showing a specific problem that matches symptoms
- Nonunion, broken or loose hardware
- Recurrent compression or adjacent segment disease
- Symptoms not explained by nerve pain alone
Your exam, imaging and overall health decide whether this surgery is appropriate for you.
How it is done
- A detailed review of prior surgery, imaging and sometimes CT scans or nerve tests.
- The surgeon plans the approach based on what needs to be fixed.
- Surgery may involve decompression, removing or replacing hardware, extending a fusion or correcting alignment.
- Hospital stay varies with the complexity of the procedure.
This surgery is usually performed in a hospital, sometimes with an overnight or longer stay. Procedures that are appropriate for outpatient care may be performed at GSMC’s surgery center; others are done in a hospital. Your surgeon will explain what to expect.
Recovery timeline
Recovery often takes longer than the first surgery and depends on what was done.
Recovery depends on the procedure, your health and how many levels are treated. Your surgeon will give you a written plan.
Risks
Every surgery has risks. Your surgeon will review them with you, including:
- Higher infection and spinal fluid leak risk than first-time surgery
- Nerve injury
- Nonunion
- Persistent pain
Alternatives to consider
See all nonsurgical options, or ask for a second opinion.
Who performs it
Call 732-202-3000 to confirm which surgeon performs this procedure and where.
Frequently asked questions
Will a second surgery fix my pain?
It depends on the cause. Revision may help when there is a clear structural problem; nerve-related pain may respond better to other treatments.
Should I get a second opinion?
Second opinions are common and welcome before revision surgery.
What about spinal cord stimulation?
For persistent nerve pain without a clear surgical target, stimulation may be an option.
This page is general patient education and does not replace advice from your own clinician. Individual results vary. No outcome can be promised.