Video: New alternative to back surgery

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Lorrie Henry is dedicated to her dogs, but that dedication led to an accident.

"I had slipped on some water that the dogs spilled out of their bowl and my legs came up from under me and slammed down right on my back," she said.

Although she already had a damaged disc, the fall did her in.

"I was not able to interact with the dogs. I wasn't able to ride my bike. I wasn't able to do a lot of things that I normally do," she said.

"By this time, she was sort of at her wit's end," said Dr. Stephen Goll.

Traditional spinal fusion involves a large incision, a three- to four-hour surgery and a long, painful recovery. But Lorrie was a good candidate for a procedure called Axialif, which involves a one-inch incision, less time under the knife and a much shorter recovery.

"They can get up and get moving much quicker in the hospital and they leave the hospital quicker," said Dr. Goll.

After doctors make a small incision, the damaged disc is cleaned out and that space is filled with bone from the patient or bone growth material. The area is then stabilized with a bolt and two screws.

"I woke up in my hospital room and it was amazing. I knew that I did not have the pain that I went in with," said Lorrie.

After only two weeks with a walker, Lorrie was back on her bike.

Half of all patients seeking lumbar spine fusions are now candidates for the less invasive procedure.