Spinal Fusion: Reasons You Might Need Spinal Fusion Surgery

What is Spinal Fusion?

Spinal fusion is a major surgical procedure that allows a spine surgeon to join two or more vertebrae together. The procedure itself does not immediately fuse the vertebrae; instead, the surgeon will place bone grafts in and around the affected area of the spine as well as hardware to hold the bones in place, and these grafts will lead to bone growth that will fix the bones together as time goes by.

Because spinal fusion is often more invasive and requires a longer recovery than other types of spinal surgery, it is usually only done after other treatment options have not brought (or are not expected to bring about) the desired results.

Reasons You Might Need Spinal Fusion Surgery

There are several conditions that might require this type of procedure to be performed. Some of them include:

Certain vertebral fractures. If you have a spinal cord injury associated with a fracture, then it’s likely that your spine specialist will recommend spinal fusion.

Spinal instability. If one or more vertebrae have become unstable from an infection, injury degenerative arthritis or tumor, spinal fusion can reduce pain and neurologic dysfunction.

Cervical disc herniation. Although you might have other treatments first, sometimes a cervical disc herniation requires spinal surgery. Along with having the disc removed, spinal fusion is often performed.

Chronic pain. In some cases, chronic neck pain or back pain can be treated with spinal fusion surgery. This is usually after physical therapy, medications and other measures have not been helpful.

Failed back surgery. Sometimes other types of spinal surgery do not work to resolve a condition, and spinal fusion is the next step.

What the Spinal Fusion Procedure Entails

You will be under general anesthetic for the procedure, and it will likely take several hours. Because surgeons differ in their approaches, and because each patient’s needs vary, there are several different ways that the surgery might be performed. For example, your surgeon might perform an open surgery or take a minimally invasive approach. Metal implants such as screws or plates may be used. A bone graft is always placed, but it may be placed from the posterior (back) or the anterior (front) of the spine.

Before your surgery, your spine doctor will talk to you about how your procedure will be done.

Recovery From Spinal Fusion

Patients may spend anywhere from one to four days in the hospital after spinal fusion surgery. Some techniques now allow patients to go home on the day of surgery. With extensive surgery sometimes they may have to stay even longer than four days and sometimes they go to a rehabilitation center after the first several days post-op. Many patients are discharged after a few days and allowed to go home.

You may need to wear a back brace during the recuperation period. Your activities will likely be restricted for the first six weeks or so, then you will be allowed to slowly resume your regular routines and activities. You will also need to go to physical therapy and perform exercises to help with healing and to help you build up your strength after the surgery. The recuperation period may take up to six months in its entirety.

Complications can occur, and your surgeon will discuss them with you. In addition to the risks of any type of surgery, there’s always the chance that there will be a problem with the implants or that the bone graft will fail. The vast majority of the time, however, patients do well with the procedure and enjoy decreased pain and increased function after healing is complete.

SPINAL FUSION

Outstanding Care, Commitment, Quality, and Outcomes

What is Spinal Fusion?

Reasons You Might Need Spinal Fusion Surgery

What the Spinal Fusion Procedure Entails

Recovery From Spinal Fusion

Contact Board-Certified Spinal Surgeons Dr. Kornel and Dr. Sharma