Treat the problem. Preserve the motion.
Modern spine surgery can do more than relieve pain. For appropriately selected patients, advanced techniques may treat the affected level while maintaining more of the spine’s natural movement.
Spine surgery is no longer one-size-fits-all.
Spinal fusion remains an important and effective treatment for many conditions. But it is not the only surgical option. Depending on the diagnosis, anatomy and degree of instability, some patients may be candidates for a procedure designed to preserve movement.
Motion-preserving spine surgery treats the affected area while maintaining as much natural function as possible. The right recommendation requires careful imaging review, a precise diagnosis and an honest discussion about both short- and long-term goals.
“The goal isn’t just to get you out of pain in the short term. It’s to make sure the decision we make today sets you up for the best possible spine health ten or twenty years from now.”
— Farah Musharbash, MD
More than one way to treat the spine
The appropriate procedure depends on the location and cause of the problem. Options may include the following when clinically appropriate.
Artificial Disc Replacement
Replaces a damaged cervical or lumbar disc while seeking to maintain movement at the treated spinal level.
Explore Motion-Preserving Care →Cervical Laminoplasty
Creates additional room for the spinal cord while preserving the posterior structures instead of automatically performing a fusion.
Explore Cervical Laminoplasty →Posterior Foraminotomy
Relieves pressure on a cervical nerve through a targeted posterior approach that may avoid fusion in selected patients.
Explore Posterior Foraminotomy →Facet Replacement
A specialized option designed to restore stability while retaining movement when the facet joints require treatment.
Ask About Your Options →The question is not which procedure is “better.”
The question is which approach best fits your condition, anatomy and long-term needs. Both strategies have an important role in spine care.
Spinal Fusion
Fusion permanently joins two or more vertebrae. It may be the most appropriate option when instability, deformity or significant structural damage must be corrected.
- Provides strong stabilization
- Can correct deformity or instability
- Remains essential for many complex conditions
Motion Preservation
Motion-preserving procedures seek to treat compression or disc disease while retaining movement and limiting unnecessary disruption of healthy anatomy.
- Maintains movement at the treated level
- May reduce stress on neighboring segments
- Supports an active, long-term treatment strategy
Motion preservation is not right for every patient.
A specialist must determine whether movement can be preserved safely without compromising stability or the effectiveness of the operation.
Experience across more than one surgical solution
Farah Musharbash, MD, completed fellowship training in both orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgery. His experience with different motion-preserving techniques and disc replacement systems allows him to evaluate a broader range of options before recommending a procedure.
- Dual fellowship training in spine surgery
- Experience with multiple artificial disc systems
- Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques
- Treatment planning centered on anatomy and personal goals
“My training with multiple disc replacement systems allows me to offer a greater range of solutions customized to my patients’ anatomy, activity and goals.”
— Farah Musharbash, MD
Complex decisions benefit from more than one perspective.
Atlantic Brain and Spine brings together orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons with complementary areas of expertise. Complex cases can be reviewed collaboratively so the recommendation reflects the diagnosis—not one surgeon’s preferred technique.
- Orthopedic and neurosurgical spine perspectives
- Review of imaging, anatomy and surgical alternatives
- Weekly discussion of selected complex cases
- A treatment recommendation built around the patient
Questions worth asking your spine surgeon
Understanding why a procedure is being recommended can help you make a more confident decision about your care.
What is the precise source of my symptoms?
Why are you recommending this procedure for my anatomy?
Is a motion-preserving option appropriate in my case?
What would make fusion the safer or more reliable choice?
How often do you perform the procedure you recommend?
How might this decision affect the rest of my spine over time?
Before you commit to fusion, ask whether motion can be preserved.
Get a personalized evaluation from a spine specialist experienced in both fusion and motion-preserving surgery.
