Question 1

1) What is a spinal fusion?

Accepted Answer

A spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to correct problems with the vertebrae like degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or a fracture, resulting from instability, weakness, or injury that can cause back or leg pain. Spinal fusion joins the vertebrae that are causing pain together so they heal into a single, solid bone, eliminating the motion between the spinal bones that may be causing pain by impacting muscles, ligaments, or nerves in unnatural ways.

Question 2

2) When is it necessary to undergo spinal fusion surgery?

Accepted Answer

In general, spine surgery is rarely an emergency situation and the decision to undergo spine surgery is often related to the level of pain and dysfunction that the patient feels. You may need to have a fusion surgery if you are suffering from a neurologic deficit which includes progressive numbness or weakness, numbness in the groin area, difficulty walking, or difficulty controlling bowel and bladder function.

Question 3

3) Who is a good candidate for spinal fusion?

Accepted Answer

A good candidate for spinal fusion is a person with severe back or leg pain or both for which there is instability in the lumbar spine or evidence of severe degeneration.

Question 4

4) Does the patient need to wear a brace after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the purpose of a thoracic or lumbar brace is in part to help to immobilize and support the spine of the patient after fusion surgery to accelerate overall recovery.

Question 5

5) Does the hardware have to be removed after fusion surgery?

Accepted Answer

Hardware is not removed until the fusion is totally solid, or about one year after surgery as once the fusion has become solid, the hardware no longer has any function.

Question 6

6) Can the hardware cause problems for me in the future?

Accepted Answer

It is unusual for spinal hardware to cause problems. Under exceptional circumstances, hardware can irritate the surrounding muscles and cause pain and in such conditions, hardware removal may help reduce muscle pain.

Question 7

7) How long does it take to recover after a spinal fusion?

Accepted Answer

With the initial recovery process usually taking about 3 months, recovery from spinal fusion, like any spine surgery, takes some time to heal. Post-surgery rehabilitation may be necessary to teach you how to move without twisting the spine, including how to sit, stand, and walk until you’re fully recovered. It is usually around six to eight months before the fusion is completely solid, but can be up
to a year.

Question 8

8) What disorders does spinal fusion treat?

Accepted Answer

Spinal fusion might help you feel better if your back pain is caused by:

Degenerative disk disease
Fracture (broken spinal bone)
Scoliosis
Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
Spondylolisthesis (forward shifting of a spinal disk)
Tumors or spine infection.

Question 9

9) How much time does the spinal surgery take?

Accepted Answer

The surgery can take anywhere between 3 to 6 hours.

Question 10

10) What are the complications in spinal fusion?

Accepted Answer

Every surgery comes with some type of risk, so does spinal fusion surgery. They are:

Bleeding
Blood clots
Infection
Pain
Risks from anesthesia
Nerve injury and Pseudoarthrosis can happen but are not that common.
Donor bone graft complications like infection or tissue rejection.

Question 11

11) What is the cost of spinal fusion surgery in India?

Accepted Answer

In India, spinal fusion surgery can start from INR 619,167.

Spinal Fusion

Symptoms

The conditions in which a Spinal Fusion is required are:

Diagnosis

The diagnostic methods carried out before a Spinal Fusion are:

Treatment

Risks

The risks involved in a Spinal Fusion surgery are:

After Procedure

After a Spinal Fusion Surgery, it is essential to keep in mind the following: