What Spine Procedures Do You Offer?
At UPMC, the spinal procedures we offer include:
Pain management
- Cervical dorsal root rhizotomy — Treats spasticity (stiff muscles) and pain caused by either a pinched nerve in the neck, arthritis, facet joint syndrome, or other cervical spine conditions. Also called a cervical dorsal root neurotomy.
- Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning — Used when nonsurgical treatments have not relieved nerve pain and other symptoms that occur when a sensory nerve detaches from your spinal cord.
- Endoscopic sympathectomy — Stops nerve signals from your spine that cause overactive sweat glands.
- Epidural steroid injection (ESI) — A common treatment for chronic spinal nerve pain that has not responded to noninvasive treatments. It involves injecting a medication into the epidural space surrounding your spinal cord to reduce irritation and inflammation of your spinal nerves.
- Intrathecal drug pump implant — A device that delivers small quantities of pain medication, such as morphine or baclofen, directly to your spinal fluid. Sometimes called a "pain pump."
- Selective nerve root block injection (SNRB) — A procedure to inject a long-lasting steroid (cortisone) around your nerve root as it exits your spinal column.
Minimally invasive spine surgery
- Cervical discectomy with fusion surgery — A minimally invasive procedure to remove a herniated or ruptured disc in your neck and fuse the vertebrae (bones of the spine) together for stability.
- Endoscopic spinal tumor resection — A minimally invasive procedure that uses an endoscope (a thin tube with a light and a microscope) to give your surgeon a magnified view of the surgical area.
- Exoscopic procedures – Minimally invasive surgical procedures using an exoscope, which offers surgeons a highly detailed view of the surgical area in a neutral or upright position.
- Kyphoplasty — A minimally invasive procedure used to treat compression fractures, which are small cracks in your vertebrae (bones of the spine).
- Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) — A minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery that joins two or more vertebrae (spinal bones).
- Microdiscectomy — A minimally invasive spine surgery that treats compressed (pinched) nerves in your spinal column caused by herniated or ruptured discs. Sometimes called herniated disc surgery and spelled microdiskectomy.
- Microforaminotomy — A minimally invasive procedure to widen the openings in your spine where your spinal nerves exit your spinal canal. Also known as spinal nerve decompression surgery.
- Microlaminectomy — A minimally invasive surgical procedure to treat conditions that cause compressed (pinched) spinal nerves, such as bone spurs, spinal stenosis (narrowing), or herniated (bulging) discs.
- Vertebroplasty — A minimally invasive procedure to treat compression fractures, or small cracks in the vertebrae (bones of the spine). Sometimes called percutaneous vertebroplasty.
Traditional spine surgery
- CT image-guided spine surgery — Blends CT scanning technology with real-time computer modeling. It works like a GPS, providing surgeons with real-time images showing where their surgical instruments are positioned in relation to your spine.
- Dynamic lumbar spine stabilization — Uses flexible materials instead of metal implants to allow for more movement in your lower spine when compared to traditional spinal fusion surgery. Sometimes called a “soft fusion” procedure.
- Lumbar laminectomy — Relieves pressure on your spinal nerves by removing a small portion of one of the spinal bones in your lower back.
- Spinal fusion — Surgery to fuse together two vertebrae (spinal bones) to eliminate motion between the vertebrae and relieve pain.
- Spinal reconstruction — Treats major spinal deformities or misalignments that affect a large portion of your spine. Sometimes called reconstructive spinal surgery.
Spine oncology
- Endoscopic spinal tumor resection — A minimally invasive procedure that uses an endoscope (a thin tube with a light and a microscope) to give your surgeon a magnified view of the surgical area.
- Spine stereotactic radiosurgery — A type of radiation treatment that uses many highly focused beams of radiation to precisely destroy spinal tumor tissue without affecting surrounding tissue.
- Spinal tumor resection surgery — Removes cancerous or noncancerous spinal tumors and stabilizes the spine.
Why Choose UPMC For Your Spine Procedure?
UPMC experts use the least invasive, most effective treatments for back and spine conditions. Our spine specialists offer traditional, minimally invasive, nonsurgical, and robotic surgical treatments for spinal disorders.
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-06-26.
