Surgical Procedures
Spine
The spine is made up of 25 interlinking bony structures (vertebrae) held together by ligaments. Each vertebrae consist of a 'body' which bears the weight and an 'arch' of bone which joins the body horizontally on either side at the back to form the spinal 'canal'.
Spongy discs act as shock absorbers between the bodies of the vertebrae, while the spinal cord runs down the spinal canal.
Disease, injury or 'wear & tear' may necessitate a range of investigative or surgical procedures leading to reconstruction or repair.
The main procedures conducted by Canberra Orthopaedic Group specialist surgeons are listed below. They are explained more fully in the surgical info sheets. Simply click on the surgical info sheets link at the bottom of the page to download and read, or print the pdf file.
| Procedure | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Decompression laminectomy | Relief of pressure on the spinal nerves caused by spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal) |
| Disectomy | Relief of pressure on the spinal nerves caused by herniation or protrusion of a disc |
| Spinal fusion | Stabilisation for degeneration or deformity |
The Canberra Orthopaedic Group surgeon specialising
in the spine is:
- Dr Bryan Ashman
- Dr Nicholas Tsai
Surgical info sheets
Decompression laminectomy [ 
108KB]
