Procedures
Spine Surgery Procedures in Reno, NV
Dr. Chavarria performs the full spectrum of cervical and lumbar spine procedures — organized by region and surgical goal — using minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.
Cervical Spine (Neck)
ACDF (Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion)
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is one of the most commonly performed and consistently successful spine surgeries. Through a small incision in the front of the neck, the damaged cervical disc is removed, the nerve is decompressed, and the vertebrae are fused — eliminating the source of neck and arm pain.
Learn More →Cervical Disc Replacement (Arthroplasty)
Cervical disc replacement (cervical arthroplasty) removes a diseased cervical disc and replaces it with an FDA-approved artificial disc implant — preserving the natural motion of that spinal segment rather than fusing the vertebrae together. For the right candidate, this motion-preserving approach may reduce stress on adjacent levels over time.
Learn More →Posterior Cervical Fusion
Posterior cervical fusion approaches the cervical spine from the back of the neck to decompress the spinal cord and stabilize multiple vertebral levels with screws and rods. It is used for conditions where the anterior approach is not sufficient — including multilevel cervical stenosis with myelopathy, cervical instability, deformity, and cases where posterior bone anatomy needs to be directly addressed.
Learn More →Cervical Laminoplasty
Cervical laminoplasty is a motion-sparing procedure that relieves pressure on the spinal cord by reshaping and repositioning the vertebral bone (laminae) to expand the spinal canal — without fusing the vertebrae together. It is an excellent option for patients with multilevel cervical myelopathy who want to preserve neck motion and avoid a fusion.
Learn More →Lumbar Spine — Decompression
Lumbar Microdiscectomy
Lumbar microdiscectomy is one of the most effective and commonly performed spine surgeries. Through a small incision, the herniated portion of the disc that is pressing on a nerve is removed — typically providing immediate relief from leg pain, numbness, and weakness. Most patients are discharged home within a few hours.
Learn More →Laminectomy & Decompression
Laminectomy is a decompression procedure that removes the back portion of a vertebra (the lamina) to enlarge the spinal canal and relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots caused by spinal stenosis. It is the most commonly performed surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis and offers excellent results in restoring the ability to walk and stand without leg pain.
Learn More →Lumbar Spine — Fusion
Lumbar Spinal Fusion (TLIF/PLIF)
Lumbar spinal fusion permanently connects two or more vertebrae together, eliminating painful motion at an unstable or severely degenerated spinal segment. Techniques such as TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion) and PLIF (Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) restore disc height, decompress the nerve, and stabilize the spine — and can be performed with minimally invasive techniques through small incisions.
Learn More →Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF)
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) approaches the lumbar spine from the front of the abdomen, allowing placement of a large interbody cage that restores disc height, corrects sagittal alignment, and achieves high fusion rates. It is a powerful technique for treating degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and adjacent segment disease at the L4–L5 and L5–S1 levels.
Learn More →Lateral Approaches (XLIF / LLIF)
Lateral lumbar interbody fusion — performed through the patient's side rather than the back or front — allows Dr. Chavarria to place a large interbody cage between the vertebrae through a very small incision, with minimal blood loss and no disruption to the back muscles. XLIF and LLIF are powerful tools for treating multi-level disc disease, flatback deformity, and degenerative scoliosis.
Learn More →Deformity, Fracture & Specialized
Adult Deformity & Scoliosis Correction
Adult spinal deformity — including scoliosis, kyphosis, and flatback syndrome — can cause progressively worsening back pain, leg pain, and difficulty standing upright. Surgical correction realigns the spine, restores sagittal balance, and often dramatically improves the ability to walk, stand, and perform daily activities.
Learn More →Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that treats painful vertebral compression fractures — most commonly caused by osteoporosis — by inserting a balloon into the collapsed vertebra, inflating it to restore height, and filling the cavity with bone cement. Most patients experience dramatic pain relief within 24–48 hours and go home the same or next day.
Learn More →SI Joint Fusion
Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion is a minimally invasive procedure that stabilizes the SI joint — the joint connecting the sacrum to the pelvis — when it is the confirmed source of chronic low back, buttock, and leg pain. Using a lateral approach through a small incision, implants are placed across the joint to eliminate painful motion and promote bony fusion.
Learn More →Trauma & Oncology
Spinal Trauma Surgery
Spinal trauma — from vertebral fractures to ligamentous injuries to spinal cord involvement — requires rapid, accurate assessment and surgical stabilization when indicated. Dr. Chavarria has experience managing the full spectrum of traumatic spinal injuries, from cervical fracture-dislocations to thoracolumbar burst fractures, with the goal of protecting neurological function and restoring spinal stability.
Learn More →Spinal Tumor Surgery
Spinal tumors — whether primary bone tumors, intradural tumors, or metastatic disease from cancers originating elsewhere in the body — can cause severe back pain, pathologic fractures, spinal instability, and neurological compromise. Surgical treatment aims to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, stabilize the spine, and when appropriate, resect the tumor to control local disease.
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