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Laser Spine Surgery – The Truth Behind This Clever Marketing Gimmick

This entry was posted in Blog General News

Laser spine surgery refers to surgery that is aided by a laser. Whether it’s due to sci-fi movies or false information floating around on the Internet, many people mistakenly believe that laser spine surgery is top-notch, second-to-none, and the pinnacle of surgery greatness.

But, what would you say if we told you that surgeons use the term laser spine surgery as a marketing tool for patients to choose their practice over another? Before you spend tens of thousands of dollars on laser spine surgery, consider the following truth behind these myths:

Myth #1 – Laser spine surgery is effective.

The commercials associated with laser spine surgery are alluring to the patient who suffers with back pain. You’ll likely hear the phrases “reduced recovery time” and “minimal risk of complications”. But, research can’t link the use of lasers to these statements. Additionally, it’s alarming to hear that medical boards such as the North American Spine Society and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons aren’t even talking about using lasers during surgery. Why? Because they don’t recognize it as a valid, medical treatment!

Myth #2 – Lasers replace the scalpel.

Even in surgeries where lasers are used, the surgeon must still use a scalpel. This is due to the very nature of a laser beam – it can only shoot straight ahead. The laser beam cannot bend! But, with every surgery, there are corners to maneuver and organs to work around. The scalpel is much more capable to work with the person’s body instead of forcing the body to work with the laser.

Myth #3 – Laser spine surgery is less invasive than minimally invasive spine surgery.

When a surgeon uses a laser to perform laser spine surgery, he makes an incision that is smaller than one made with a scalpel. However, because of that, the surgeon has much less visibility and room to adapt to the surgery procedure. Our team of surgeons have perfected minimally invasive spine surgery to be just that – minimally invasive.

When you trust the surgeons at Georgia Neurosurgical Institute to perform your surgery, you are in the best hands in the state of Georgia. We believe that technology should only complement our surgeon’s knowledge and expertise, not take over such an important procedure. If you have any questions, contact us today.