Herniated Disc

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a herniated disc in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

Herniated Disc: Definition

A spinal disc herniation is a pathological condition in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring (annulus fibrosus) of an intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion (nucleus pulposus) to be extruded (herniated) to the outside of the disc.

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a kyphoplasty in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

Kyphoplasty: When Used

Like vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty is used to treat patients with compression fractures of the vertebrae of the spine. Unlike vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, can restore bone height in the vertebrae and unwanted curvature of the spine.

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for the treatment of Kyphosis in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

Kyphosis: Definition

Kyphosis occurs in the thoracic spine, which naturally has some kyphosis or forward facing C curve. A medical problem results when there is too much kyphotic curve in the thoracic spine. The normal amount of curve in the thoracic spine varies from person to person, but should be no more than 40 degrees or less than 20 degress over the entire thoracic spine, which is made of 12 vertebae and connected to your ribs.

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a Laminaplasty in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

Laminaplasty is much like the laminectomy in that the spinal processes are removed. However, unlike the laminectomy, where the lamina is permanently removed, the laminaplasty retains the lamina. In the laminaplasty the lamina is reshaped or expanded with bone inserts. This creates more room in the spinal canal and relieves pressure on the nerves. A Discectomy, Flavectomy or Foraminotomy may also accompany a laminectomy or laminaplasty.

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a Laminectomy in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

Laminectomy: Definition

Laminectomy is a surgical procedure for treating spinal stenosis by relieving pressure on the spinal cord. The lamina of the vertebra is removed to widen the spinal canal and create more space for the spinal nerves. A Laminectomy is not recommended in people under 35 and should not be done on multiple adjoining levels, because it can destabilize the spinal column.

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a Laminoplasty in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

The terms Laminoplasty and Laminaplasty are used interchangeably in the US. In Europe only the term Laminoplasty is used.

Laminoplasty is much like the laminectomy in that the spinal processes are removed. However, unlike the laminectomy, where the lamina is permanently removed, the laminoplasty retains the lamina. In the laminoplasty the lamina is reshaped or expanded with bone inserts. This creates more room in the spinal canal and relieves pressure on the nerves. A Discectomy, Flavectomy or Foraminotomy may also accompany a laminectomy or laminoplasty.

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a Laminotomy in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

Laminotomy is the term for the procedure where material located on the lamina is removed and the lamina is partially reduced. Removal of this material opens the vertebral foramen to create more room for the spinal cord or cauda eguina. Unlike the Laminectomy or the Laminaplasty, the Laminotomy does not remove or section (cut) the lamina, respectively.

Laminotomy is often accompanied with a discectomy, because the Laminotomy gives the neurosurgeon access to the herniated disc.

Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a lumbar artificial disc replacement surgery in the US and are individually quoted. These cost savings are especially realized in multi-level lumbar artificial disc replacement.Costs / prices include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

Degenerative disc disease and post-laminectomy syndrome in the lumbar spine are most common diagnoses, which lead to lumbar artificial disc replacements surgery. However, suffers should try at least 6 months of conservative treatment before surgery is contemplated. These treatments can help with the pain. It is only when the conservative treatment no longer helps should surgery be considered.

Prices in Germany are normally 75% below the cost for a lumbar fusion treatment in the US and are individually quoted. They include all medical expenses, the hospital stay, surgeon's fees, operation room fees, anesthesia, anesthesiologist's fees, medicine, nursing, semi-private room, meals, pre-op diagnosis, local phone and English TV.

• Lumbar Fusion: What is it?
• Lumbar Fusion: Why is it Needed?

Michael Modic, MD, first wrote about variations in signal strength on in MR imaging of the marrow of vertebral bodies, while he was a professor of radiology and neurology at Case Western. Hence, we have the name Modic changes today to describe the phenomenon.

When Modic changes appear in the vertebral bodies near the endplates of the disc (despite their name, vertebral endplates are part of the disc, not the vertebral body), it confirms the diagnosis of degenerative disc disease (DDD).

(Often bone spurs are also seen in the Ring Apophysis adjacent to these endplates in cases of DDD.) There are three types of Modic changes and to properly classify them, one must see the T1 and T2 MRIs. These classifications have been confirmed by histological investigations and represent different types of changes to the vertebral body.