Tiger Woods Back Surgery in Dallas TX
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Tiger Wood Back Surgery in Dallas TX is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves the removal of the damaged disc in the spine. In general, the surgeon can approach the spine from the back or the abdomen depending on the patient’s condition.
Tiger Woods is a famous golf player who has suffered from many golfing injuries. MIS for sports injuries is an effective approach to treat back pain, arm pain, and sciatic pain in the leg. It can also treat a wide range of other back problems, such as degenerated disc disease, spondylolysis, spinal deformity, and imbalance.
Tiger Woods Back Surgery in Dallas TX
Before we tell you how the minimally invasive surgery procedures “ALIF” helped Woods overcome his back problem, it is important to know about his previous surgeries. In 2014, Woods complained of severe back pain that was due to a pinched nerve in his spine. So, he underwent a procedure known as microdiscectomy.
Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive procedure to treat different back problems, including those that are caused by golfing injuries. For instance, Woods suffered from back pain due to intense movement while swinging the golf club. As a result, he withdrew from the Honda Classic tournament to undergo the surgery.
Also known as micro-decompression surgery, microdiscectomy is MIS for sports injuries performed by MINT surgeons on patients who suffer from a herniated lumbar disc. In Woods’ case, the surgeon relieves pressure on this spinal nerve to relieve pain that was caused by a pinched nerve.
In 2015, Tiger Woods underwent his second spine surgery because he complained of back pain. According to Tiger Woods, he had the same back spasms, which led to a painful sensation in his back. The second microdiscectomy surgery was also successful and Woods had relieved from pain.
However, one month later, in October 2015, Woods underwent follow-up surgery to relieve pain in his back. The follow-up surgery was necessary to relieve pain, which was caused by a pinched nerve. The purpose of the operation was to eliminate any complications related to his second microdiscectomy.
Tiger Woods ALIF Surgery
Although microdiscectomy is an effective surgical method to relieve back pain, it caused problems for Tiger Woods. The famous golfer had relieved pain, but his L5-S1 joint in the lumbar spine had become severely narrowed. Consequently, Woods suffered from back pain again. At the same time, Woods complained of sciatic pain in his leg.
So, Tiger underwent conservative treatment, which includes pain medications and physical therapy. Although these types of treatments can provide quick relief, for Tiger Woods, they didn’t do quite well. That’s why he consulted his surgeon Dr. Richard Guyer who advised him to undergo MIS for sports injuries. In other words, the surgeon recommended him the lumbar interbody fusion surgery.
Moreover, lumbar interbody fusion is a minimally invasive technique used to treat back problems. Keep in mind that there are several types of lumbar interbody fusion surgery, such as TLIF, PLIF, XLIF, ALIF, and others. But, Dr. Richard Guyer decided to perform the ALIF procedure. The decision was based on Woods’ condition and his previous back surgeries.
Dr. Guyer had chosen the ALIF approach because Woods had previously undergone three back surgeries. It wouldn’t be wise to choose PLIF because it could damage the muscles surrounding his lumbar spine. Anyway, the surgery was performed in April 2017.
The surgeon approached Woods’ lumbar spine through a tiny incision from the front. The damaged disc was removed and the bone graft material was placed. The objective of MIS for sports injuries is to relieve back pain and/or sciatic pain. So, after the surgery, Woods underwent a long, six months rehabilitation to fully recover from his back pain.
ALIF Procedure at MINT
ALIF is an ideal approach used by MINT surgeons to treat back problems. We don’t perform open-back surgery because it has many disadvantages. For instance, open back surgery requires the surgeon to make a large incision, which can increase the risk of infection.
Besides, it can lead to an increased risk of blood loss, healing time, and decreased mobility. Open back surgery is also associated with more pain. On the other hand, ALIF is a minimally invasive approach, which is not only more beneficial than other lumbar interbody spinal techniques but it also clearly wins over open-back surgery.
The reason is that there is no involvement of making a large incision. In fact, our MINT surgeon makes an incision in the front to spare back muscles. Likewise, there is less blood, less scarring, and faster recovery.
If you are suffering from back pain or sciatic pain in the leg, ALIF is the right procedure for you. Contact MINT today for more info on Tiger Woods Back Surgery in Dallas TX.
