A herniated disc is a condition that typically affects the lower back. A spinal disc is the cushioning that sits between the separate bones of the spine (the vertebrae). A herinated disc is when this cushioning gets pushed out from between the bones, usually due to injury or ageing. This is sometimes also known as a bulging or ruptured disc.

In most cases, a herniated disc can heal without surgery. Initial treatment often involves rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physiotherapy, and sometimes steroid injections. If the disc fails to heal after these treatments, surgery may be recommended to remove a portion of the herniated disc. This is known as a discectomy

Laminectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the back, bony arch of one or more vertebrae. It may be performed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. It is sometimes used to treat spinal arthritis.

Sciatica is the medical term for chronic pain in the sciatic nerve.  This can be caused by a herniated disc, a pinched nerve, or arthritis. The sciatic nerve starts in the lower spine and travels down the hips and legs. Sciatica pain may feel like tingling, or a painful numb sensation.

Sciatica can usually be managed without surgery. Common treatments include pain medication, physiotherapy, and steriod injections. Surgery may be recommended if sciatica is caused by an underlying condition, such as a herniated disc.

Scoliosis is an unnatural curvature of the spine that is present from birth. Most cases of scoliosis are mild and do not pose any problems. However, more severe cases can cause issues such as back pain, breathing difficulties, leg discomfort or numbness, or even incontinence.

Moderate scoliosis is sometimes treated with bracing. This involves wearing a corset-like garment, which helps to hold the spine in a corrected position and prevent the curve from getting worse. 

Severe scoliosis is sometimes treated surgically. The most common scoliosis surgery is spinal fusion. Spinal fusion uses rods, screws and bone grafts to realign the spine and fuse it in place.

Spinal fusion (also known as arthrodesis) is a surgical procedure that permanently joins two or more vertebrae together. It usually involves a bone graft, as well as implants such as screws, rods and plates to hold the vertebrae in place while the bone graft heals.

The aim of spinal fusion is to eliminate pain by stabilising the spine and preventing movement between the fused vertebrae. It is often used to treat conditions like spinal instability, degenerated discs, fractures, scoliosis, and other spinal abnormalities.

Tumours are abnormal growths of cells that can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Spinal tumours can develop anywhere along the spinal column, including within or around the spinal cord and on the vertebral column (ie: on the bone).

Symptoms of a spinal tumour can include persistent back pain, numbness, and a loss of sensation in the arms and legs. 

Spinal tumours are often treated surgically. Further treatment may also include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Treatment and care is usually provided by a multidisciplinary team, which can include orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and oncologists.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive surgical procedures used to treat the pain caused by vertebral body compression fractures. Compression fractures are often caused by osteoporosis and trauma.

Both procedures involve injecting a special type of bone cement into the broken spinal bone to stabilise it and help it heal. However, in kyphoplasty a small balloon is first implanted and inflated within the broken vertebra to create space for the cement.