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Do you want to know why Tiger Woods’ minimally invasive surgery was a successful procedure? If yes, you are in the right place. In today’s article, we will talk about Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, a procedure performed by Dr. Richard Guyer to treat Tiger Woods’ back spasms and sciatic pain in the leg.
Tiger Woods’ back pain has a long history. Back in 2014, he complained of back pain, which was due to a pinched as a result of the degenerative disease. Woods underwent two microdiscectomy procedures to treat his pinched nerve that was causing pain in his lower back.
Although the procedures provided him relief from pain, it didn’t completely resolve the issue. Also, Tiger went another procedure because he complained of discomfort in his lower back. At the same time, he continued taking medications and participated in physical therapy sessions.
However, none of them completely treated his problem. These treatments only provided him relief on a short-term basis. That’s why in 2017, he consulted Dr. Richard Guyer, one of the most reputable neurosurgeons in the U.S, who then recommended ALIF, a Tiger Woods’ minimally invasive surgery procedure to treat his back and leg pain.
Tiger Woods Minimally Invasive Surgery
Tiger Woods had a degenerative disc between L5 and S1. L5 is the last vertebra in the lumbar spine and S1 is the top of the sacrum. Together, these bones make a triangular formation of the pelvic area. The degenerative disc in his lumbar spine was responsible for his back spasms, pain, tingling, and sciatica.
During the surgery, Dr. Richard Guyer removed the degenerative disc between L5 and S1. The procedure, in general, requires the surgeon to approach the lumbar spine from the abdomen. The purpose is to avoid causing damage to the muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tissues of the lumbar spine.
Because Woods had undergone three surgeries in the past, Dr. Richard Guyer did not want to approach the spine through PLIF or TLIF method. Otherwise, it would cause problems for Woods and further damage his spine.
Similarly, the PLIF and TLIF are Tiger Woods Minimally Invasive Surgery techniques that can treat a wide range of back pain problems, it was risky to use them for removing the L5/S1 vertebra.
That’s why Dr. Guyer went for the anterior approach. During the surgery, Dr. Guyer approached the L5/S1 joint and remove the degenerated disc. He placed a high-quality synthetic bone graft material in the area to begin the fusion process. The doctor used a quality mesh cage to hold the graft material in place.
Tiger Woods underwent a rehabilitation procedure after the surgery for six to ten months. During the rehabilitation, he was in contact with his neurosurgeon who guided him on how to take medications and perform physical therapy sessions.
An outpatient physical therapist under the guidance of Woods’ neurosurgeon taught him to carry out several exercises, which strengthened and stabilized his back. As a result, Tiger Woods came back and won the 2019 Masters’ tournament.
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Also known as ALIF, it is a surgery that allows the surgeon to approach the spine from the front – i.e. through the abdominal area. The ALIF procedure is suitable for fusing multiple discs in the lumbar spine.
ALIF is not a complicated surgery like traditional open-back surgery, which is associated with a lot of pain, slow recovery, and longer hospital stay. On the other hand, ALIF is a well-tolerated minimally invasive spine procedure that enables the surgeon to place a larger cage in the lumbar spine for greater stability and quick fusion.
Here at MINT, our surgeons have tracked the outcomes of each ALIF surgery. We have found that here at MINT, our qualified and experienced surgeons have performed various ALIF procedures to treat back pain problems. So, our success rate is above 95% when it comes to treating spinal problems like Tiger Woods’ back pain.
Our patients who underwent spinal fusion surgeries returned to their day-to-day lives within six to ten months. The rehabilitation period depends on various factors, such as the age, the physical and mental status of the patient, and previously performed surgeries.
Contact MINT for ALIF and Other Spinal Procedures
Unlike other clinics in Plano, TX, MINT follows a standard procedure and protocol before and after the surgery. During COVID-19, our patients can contact us via our telehealth services for both preoperative and postoperative care, which is a plus point for many people who want to avoid traveling.
Lastly, we have qualified, professional, licensed, and experienced surgeons who can perform ALIF and other spinal procedures successfully. If you want to get rid of back pain just like the famous golfer did through Tiger Woods minimally invasive surgery, then don’t hesitate to contact us today.
