Spine Surgery in Vienna

All types of spine surgery are carried out under general anesthetic. In general, spine surgery can be performed through traditional open surgery or minimally invasive surgery. With open surgery, your surgeon makes a long incision down your back and moves aside the muscles and soft tissue around the spine to access the affected area. With minimally invasive surgery, your surgeon makes a small incision and inserts a device known as a tubular retractor to create a tunnel to the affected area, then; your surgeon puts small surgical tools through the device to work on the spine.

You generally need to stay in the hospital for two to seven days after spine surgery. Plan to stay in Vienna for at least five to ten days following the surgery because you need to attend follow-up checkups where your surgeon removes your stitches and monitor your healing progress.

The recovery for spine surgery depends on the type and the technique used to perform the surgery. After open surgery, the complete recovery may take up to six months, but you should be able to go back to work and some light activities within 3 to 4 weeks. After minimally invasive surgery, you should be able to return to work and resume most of your activities within two weeks.

Your surgeon will give you instructions about your diet, exercise, wound care, and how you can use your back following the surgery. You may need physical therapy to help you recover and strengthen muscles around the spine. You may also need to attend follow-up appointments, but you usually can do this with your local doctor.

The alternative depends on your specific condition. For instance, if you experience back pain, your surgeon may recommend you to have regular exercise and physical therapies. Most types of back pain do not need surgery, so your doctor may prescribe medication to help with the pain.