Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure to connects two or more vertebrae permanently in your spine. This eliminates the motion between them. It involves techniques designed to replicate the healing process of broken bones.
During the operation, your surgeon will place a bone or a bonelike material within the space between two spinal vertebrae. With the use of metal plates, rods and screws; the vertebrae are held together so they can heal into a solid unit.
Your doctor may recommend spinal fusion to treat one of the following spine-related issues:
- Broken vertebrae
- Herniated disk
- Spinal instability or weakness
- Spine deformities
- Spondylolisthesis
The procedure involves an incision in either the neck, the back, abdomen, or throat; whereever is needed to gain access to the vertebrae being fused. Then, a bone graft is taken from either your body or from a bone bank. If you own bone is used for the surgery, then the surgeon will make an incision right above your pelvic bone and remove a small portion of it. Finally, the surgeon will place the bone graft material between the vertebrae to fuse them together. Metal plates, rods, and screws are typically required to help hold the vertebrae in place while the bone graft heals.
While procedure is considered safe, there are some potential risks, such as:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Poor wound healing
- Injured blood vessels or nerves surrounding the spine
After spinal fusion, you will be required to stay in the hospital for two to three days. Depending on the location and extent of the procedure, you might experience some pain and discomfort, which is eased with the help of medication. After five or six months of recovery and physical therapy, most patients return to normal activity.
Why Choose SonoSpine®
Because spinal fusion surgery immobilizes parts of your spine, it changes the way your spine can move. This movement places additional stress and strain on the vertebrae above and below the fused portion and may increase the rate at which those areas of your spine degenerate. This degeneration may lead to additional fusion surgery.
At SonoSpine, we use the most advanced minimally invasive surgery techniques that eliminate the need for spinal fusion. There are no hospital stays and no significant risks for complications. Also, recovery time with our surgery takes approximately six weeks, compared to the six-month healing time for spinal fusion.
For more information about our minimally invasive surgery, contact SonoSpine® today.