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EDISCSCULPTSpinal Fusion Surgery
Spinal fusion is the joining together or two or more vertebrae using supplementary bone or metal. The bone may be taken from the patient's own hip, or it may be from a donor. A the body heals from surgery, the supplementary bone fuses with the original bone. Spinal fusion stabilizes the spine; it also reduces the mobility of the fused vertebrae; this reduces irritation of the nerves and the pressure on the discs.
Spinal fusion is most often necessary to stabilize the spine after invasive spine surgery. For example, in order to relieve pressure on pinched nerves, a laminectomy is sometimes performed, resulting in the removal of vertebral bone. Other times, a large amount of disc material is removed, destabilizing the spine during the treatment of herniated discs, bulging discs, or degenerative disc disease. Osteoarthritis can also be treated with spinal fusion. In other cases, spinal fusion surgery is used to correct a deformity of the spine, such as scoliosis or kyphosis.
The procedure is most often performed on the lumbar portion of the spine (the lower back), which has considerable mobility while bearing the largest amount of weight. Herniated and bulging discs are common in that area. However, it can also be used on the thoracic spine (upper back) or cervical spine (neck). Because the thoracic spine naturally has the least mobility, outcomes tend to be best for that area.
Alternative Treatments
Before any type of spinal surgery is considered, conservative treatments will be attempted. Even the most minimally invasive procedure is not free of downtime and risks, no matter how small. Non-surgical treatments for spine conditions include rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, and chiropractic treatment. The majority of routine spine conditions can be treated with these methods. Few patients with spine surgery ever need surgery; of those, few need spinal fusion.
Spinal fusion is a major procedure. Like all open back surgery, it is associated with a lengthy recovery time - as long as several months When the donor's own hip bone is used as supplementary bone, the patient must recover from surgery on two areas of the body. While the procedure is invasive, it is necessary in some cases. However, many routine spine conditions can be treated with minimally invasive spinal surgery, including laser surgery. These procedures minimize the amount of bone and disc material removed from the spine, which means that the spine does not need to be stabilized afterwards. Benefits of laser spine surgery include:
- Less chance of needing stabilizing procedures
- Reduced risk of infection
- Reduced risk of bleeding and clotting
- No loss of spinal mobility
- No large scar
- As little as 1/4 of the recovery time
After any surgery, good care is essential for reducing recovery time and the risk of complications. This includes walking regularly, going to physical therapy, good wound care, and maintaining a healthy diet.
The majority of patients with spine conditions will never need spinal fusion surgery; with the advent of minimally invasive spine surgery, many procedures which in the past required spinal fusion no longer require it. For those patients who do need spinal fusion surgery, the results can greatly improve quality of life. Whatever procedure is needed to treat your spine condition, good care before, during, and after your surgery is essential.
Only a doctor can tell you what the best course of treatment for your back pain is. To schedule a consultation today, please call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at 212-420-0312.
info@dattaendoscopic.com