Revision Surgery
Revision surgery is when a patient needs the same or similar operation to remedy recurrent symptoms. There are many reasons why revision surgery may be required, from early disc re-prolapse, to further spinal degeneration over time leading to recurrence of symptoms. The procedure may take place weeks, months or many years after a previous operation. Often the same scar is used, but sometimes a different surgical approach is selected by your surgeon to make it technically easier to achieve the same outcome.
Revision surgery is more difficult than first time surgery because your tissue layers are scarred from previous surgery and often the anatomy is less clear when making the approach. The risk of surgical complications is inherently higher, and often recovery is longer. Careful consideration is made when proposing revision surgery due these factors, and it will only be offered if the success rate for reduction of symptoms is deemed favorable.