Spine Surgery

The spine — the vertebral column or backbone — consists of bones (vertebrae) separated by soft cushions (disks). Pressure on the nerves that branch off the spinal cord can produce pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.

Anatomy of the Spine

The spine is a column of twenty-four vertebrae, the sacrum, intervertebral discs, and the coccyx situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by spinal discs. The spinal cord is located within a spinal canal.

• The cervical vertebrae — seven vertebrae with eight pairs of cervical nerves — begins at the base of the skull.
• The thoracic vertebrae — twelve vertebrae that serve as attachment points for ribs — is located between the cervical and lumbar vertebrae.
• The lumbar vertebrae — five vertebrae — is the lower part of the spine between the thoracic region and the sacrum.

Disorders of the Spine

The surgeons at Orthopaedic Physicians of Colorado diagnose and treat disorders of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae and discs including:

• disc disease
• disc herniation
• failed back
• fractures
• infection
• inflammation
• kyphosis
• myelopathy
• nerve compression
• radiculopathy
• scoliosis
• spinal stenosis
• spondylolisthesis
• tumors

Call Orthopaedic Physicians of Colorado at 303-789-2663 to schedule an appointment at one of our locations in the Denver metropolitan area to discuss treatment of any spine problems you may be experiencing.