Procedures
Spine procedures in Fresno
Dr. Higginbotham's practice is built around four spine procedures. Each one fits specific problems, none is right for everyone, and surgery is only one part of the care we offer.
Four procedures we focus on
Endoscopic spine surgery
A small camera and fine tools work through a tube less than half an inch wide to free a pinched nerve. Often used for herniated discs and some forms of stenosis in the low back.
About endoscopic surgeryCervical disc replacement
A worn or herniated neck disc is removed and replaced with an artificial disc designed to keep that level moving. An alternative to fusion for some patients.
About disc replacementNavigated spine surgery
3D images taken in the operating room guide instruments and screw placement during a fusion, sometimes with a robotic arm holding the planned path.
About navigationComplex adult deformity correction
Surgery to free pinched nerves and rebalance an adult spine that curves to the side or tips forward, planned from standing x-rays of the whole spine.
About deformity correctionHow a procedure is chosen
The right operation depends on four things: where the problem is, what is pressing on the nerves, how stable the spine is and your overall health. A disc fragment pinching one nerve in the low back is a very different problem from a spine that has lost its balance across ten levels, and the operations are sized to match.
At your first visit, Dr. Higginbotham reviews your symptoms, examines your strength, reflexes and sensation, and goes through your MRI and x-rays with you. He explains what he sees, which options make sense, and what would happen if you chose not to have surgery. For many patients, the first plan is a nonsurgical one.
Consultation
History, exam and a review of your imaging, with new scans ordered only when they would change the plan.
Nonsurgical care
Therapy, medicine or injections come first for most people, unless there is serious nerve pressure.
Surgical plan
If surgery makes sense, you get a clear plan covering the operation, its risks and what recovery tends to look like.
Follow-up
Scheduled visits and x-rays after surgery track healing and guide your return to normal activity.
Related operations
Some patients need more common spine operations, and those are often part of the four procedures above. A lumbar decompression, or laminectomy, removes bone and ligament pressing on the nerves in the low back. A microdiscectomy removes a herniated disc through a small open incision with a microscope. A spinal fusion joins two or more vertebrae so they heal as one. Deformity correction usually includes a fusion, and navigation is often used to place the fusion screws.
Dr. Higginbotham will tell you plainly which operation he recommends and why, including when a standard approach is the better choice for your spine.
Match a procedure to your condition
Most people start with a symptom, not a procedure name. These pages explain the common spine problems and which treatments tend to fit each one:
Before you decide on surgery
No operation comes with a guaranteed result. Every spine surgery carries risks, such as infection, bleeding, nerve injury and the chance of needing more surgery later. We go over these in plain terms, and we encourage questions. These articles can help you prepare:
- What minimally invasive spine surgery means
- Getting your health ready for an operation
- What recovery after spine surgery looks like
- When and how to get a second opinion
Patients come to our Fresno office from across the Central Valley. See the locations page for what the trip looks like from your city, or request a consultation.
Start with a conversation
Questions about your neck or back?
Call the office or send a short request and our team will call you back. Please keep medical details for the phone call.