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Spinal Fusion
A surgical procedure to join two or more spinal vertebrae permanently is called spinal fusion.
The conditions in which a Spinal Fusion is required are:
- Spondylolisthesis
- Fracture
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Infection
- Tumor
The diagnostic methods carried out before a Spinal Fusion are:
- Physical examination
- Medical history
- CT Scan
- MRI
A bone like material is placed between two vertebrae which may be secured with plates, screws & rods so that they can heal into one unit. It mimics the normal healing process of a broken bone. It immobilizes those parts of the spine. Hence can lead to additional stress & strain on the vertebrae above & below the fused portion.
The risks involved in a Spinal Fusion surgery are:
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Injury to nerves
- Injury to blood vessels
- Pain
After a Spinal Fusion Surgery, it is essential to keep in mind the following:
- To relieve pain apply ice for first 48-72 hours on the painful areas & then apply heat.
- Medications for pain can also be taken.
- Limited physical activity is advised to reduce swelling in the area.
- To avoid pressure on the knees, sleep in a fetal position or with a pillow between the legs.
- Avoid heavy lifting or twisting the legs.
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Spinal Fusion
A surgical procedure to join two or more spinal vertebrae permanently is called spinal fusion.
Symptoms
The conditions in which a Spinal Fusion is required are:
- Spondylolisthesis
- Fracture
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Infection
- Tumor
Diagnosis
The diagnostic methods carried out before a Spinal Fusion are:
- Physical examination
- Medical history
- CT Scan
- MRI
Treatment
A bone like material is placed between two vertebrae which may be secured with plates, screws & rods so that they can heal into one unit. It mimics the normal healing process of a broken bone. It immobilizes those parts of the spine. Hence can lead to additional stress & strain on the vertebrae above & below the fused portion.
Risks
The risks involved in a Spinal Fusion surgery are:
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Injury to nerves
- Injury to blood vessels
- Pain
After Procedure
After a Spinal Fusion Surgery, it is essential to keep in mind the following:
- To relieve pain apply ice for first 48-72 hours on the painful areas & then apply heat.
- Medications for pain can also be taken.
- Limited physical activity is advised to reduce swelling in the area.
- To avoid pressure on the knees, sleep in a fetal position or with a pillow between the legs.
- Avoid heavy lifting or twisting the legs.
FAQ Section
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The surgery can take anywhere between 3 to 6 hours.
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.
In India, spinal fusion surgery can start from INR 619,167.