If the responses of the patient are not enough for the orthopedic doctors to determine the best treatment, or if the person shows signs of neurological injury, the doctor might run the following diagnostic tests:
MRI – MRI test uses strong radio waves to produce computer-generated images of the injured area. MRI test is useful in identifying blood clots in the spinal cord, herniated discs, and abnormal masses that compress the spinal cord causing pain.
X-ray – X-rays can help study the structural anatomy of the hard tissues of the spine to diagnose spine dislocation, kyphosis, scoliosis, bone spurs, disc space narrowing, vertebral body fracture, spinal collapse, or erosion.
CT Scan – A CT Scan provides a clear image of the injury in both soft and hard spinal tissues. The diagnostic test can also detect abnormalities of the vertebrae, spinal cord, and spinal nerves.

Spinal abnormalities usually involve abnormal interactions between the soft and hard tissue components of the spine. A spine doctor may be able to rule out a spine injury by physical examination, by asking some questions about the accident that has caused the injury, or by testing for your sensory function and movement.
In addition to these tests, the doctor may ask you a few questions to understand the condition better,such as:
If you have any pain in your back or neck?
Have you suffered any injury on your back or had to undergo any surgery on your neck or back?
Do you feel weakness and loss of balance in your legs?
If the above procedures don’t suffice in giving out a clear indication of the condition, the spine doctor will conduct a more comprehensive and detailed exam to diagnose the level of injury and determine the best treatment.

About 3 percent of people suffering a spine injury may develop syringomyelia – a condition in which syrinx or fluid-filled cysts form within the spinal cord. Syringomyelia may sometimes cause pain and discomfort, and at other times, cause no symptoms at all.

Long-term muscle contraction due to injury to the spine may cause stiffness and rigidity in the muscles. Spasticity can make movement, including walking and running, difficult for a person. About 70-78 percent of people with spine cord injury suffer from spasticity.

Neuropathic joint arthropathy is a common complication of spinal cord injury. Neuropathic joint arthropathy is a slow destruction of the joint. The condition may develop even 10-15 years after the spine injury. Conservative monitoring, medications, and spinal fusion surgery can treat the condition of Neuropathic joint arthropathy.

Autonomic Dysreflexia is a serious systematic complication of spine injury that hampers proper communications between the brain and the body. Autonomic Dysreflexia causes unregulated breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

The temporary loss of neurological activities including the sensory and motor reflux below the spinal cord lesion is known as a spinal shock The complication can occur immediately after an acute spinal injury. While the reflexes above the spinal cord remain unaffected in the condition, the reflexes below the level either become absent (the condition is known as areflexia) or depressed (the condition is known as Hyporefexia). The extent of reflex disruption can vary from one patient to another.

Neurogenic shock can result due to severe damage to the central nervous system. The condition is also known as Vasogenic Shock. Consequences of neurogenic shock include loss of autonomic control and loss of stimulation to the blood vessels.

Like any other surgery, there are certain risks associated with endoscopic spine surgery or MISS, such as:
infections at the surgical site
allergic reactions
blood clotting
pain and discomfort
paralysis
reaction to anesthesia
stroke
To cut down these risks, it is important that you consult a trained and experienced spine doctor. Before the surgery, discuss all the questions and concerns, weigh the benefits and the risks and then undergo the surgery.

It is generally performed for spinal stenosis patients. The surgeon removes bony spurs or walls compressing the spinal column to relieve the nerve pressure.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are performed to fix compression fractures due to osteoporosis. The surgeon injects a glue-like bone cement that hardens and strengthens the vertebrae.

It is a slipped disc surgery that is performed to remove a herniated disc compressing the nerve root and spinal cord. It is often performed in conjunction with laminectomy.

This is performed to widen the spinal column where the nerve root exits the spinal canal in case it has narrowed due to aging.

Nucleoplasty, also called plasma disk decompression is a minimally invasive laser surgery in which the surgeon uses a plasma laser device to reduce the disk size and treat mild disk hernia.

The surgeon removes the spinal disc and fuses the adjacent vertebrae together using bone grafts or metal implants to allow the fusion of vertebrae together via the bone grafts, for example, ACDF surgery (Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion), TLIF surgery (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion).

For people with severely damaged vertebral discs, the surgeon removes the disc and replaces it with a synthetic implant to help restore vertebral height and movement.

The above-mentioned costs for different minimally invasive spine surgeries are like to change based on the following factors:
The consultation fee of the spine surgery specialist
The age of the patient
Admission fee at the hospital
Type of surgery performed
The medical condition of the patient
Post-surgical complications involved, if any
The hospital and the category of the room the patient opts for
Any other lab tests and examination tests such as ECG, X-rays, etc.

Preparation before a spine surgery includes both physical and psychological aspects. Depending upon the condition of the injury, the doctor is likely to guide the patients with everything necessary. However, here are a few points that may come in handy for anyone planning spine surgery.
Gather all necessary information about spine surgery – The key to preparation for any surgery is being well informed about it. Talk to the doctor, the medical staff, and acquire all important information about the procedure, medicines, the cost, and anything else that comes to your mind. The more well-informed a person is about the surgery, the better he/ she is likely to do postoperatively.
Don’t stop moving – We understand it is tough to live with constant back pain. Even then, it is recommended to be physically active as much as possible. Going stagnant may add to complications during the surgery. Stay physically active, try to achieve a healthy weight. This can speed up the recovery process and enhance blood circulation too.
Don’t take any anti-inflammatory drugs – You should stop taking drugs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin before the surgery. Blood thinners can increase the risk of complications during the surgery. If you are taking any over-the-counter pills, it is essential that you inform your doctor.
Keep realistic expectations – Don’t expect the surgery to fix everything. The surgery is not a guaranteed cure for the condition. Although it improves the injury symptoms to a great extent, a lot also depends on the person’s dietary and lifestyle habits too.