Spinal fusion surgery aims to improve quality of life by correcting the curvature or stability of the spine. It’s a surgical procedure designed to decrease motion at the site that may be causing pain or discomfort. This procedure can improve your pain management, but it will reduce your spine mobility. In addition, before considering spinal fusion surgery, your doctor must pinpoint the exact location of your discomfort which can take time. Doctors use various imaging techniques, such as X-ray or MRI, to find the specific vertebra(e) on the spine causing pain.
24 vertebrae make up the spinal column. Facet joints are located at the back of each vertebral body, providing hingelike motion. Your facet joints work together with your intervertebral discs to provide a range of motion for your back and neck. Obstruction of this normal range of motion may prompt your healthcare provider to recommend spinal fusion surgery. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, spinal fusion is a process of “welding” vertebrae to limit motion.
Procedure
If spinal fusion is right for you, the procedure typically starts with a bone graft. This means a small piece of bone is first collected, usually from your own pelvis or a donor. The surgeon then transplants the bone fragments in between one or more vertebrae to promote bone growth. The goal is to “weld” the vertebrae together through bone growth to decrease pain or discomfort by limiting motion. Surgeons often use metal rods, plates, and screws for support and to hold the spine still during the healing process.
Your surgeon will choose the initial incision site based on the location of the targeted vertebrae. You should expect to remain in the hospital one to three days after surgery to monitor your post-op response.
Risks
You should consult your surgeon about the possible risks regarding spinal fusion surgery. Some general spinal fusion risks include possible infection, pain at the surgical site, bleeding, nerve damage, or even unresolved symptoms.
It is important to consider the lifelong physical limitations as a result of this procedure. Because this operation aims to immobilize the spine, the range of motion in your back will be permanently limited. If you experience new symptoms or your symptoms go unresolved after the operation, revision surgeries may be considered. Spinal fusion is a life-altering decision, and the impacts on your lifestyle should be discussed in detail with your doctor.
Recovery
Each patient and procedure is unique, so the road to recovery may vary on a case-by-case basis. By the same token, be sure to strictly follow the post-operative instructions from your doctor to maximize your results.
Pain management will likely be a part of your healing process following spinal fusion surgery. Your doctor may prescribe you short-term pain relief medication including opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and local anesthetics. Please consult your doctor about the addictive risks of these medications.
The fusion process takes time, so your doctor may ask you to wear a back brace to limit mobility. Despite stories of some patients starting physical therapy as early as six weeks post-operation, full recovery may take 3-6 months.
Your post-op team will teach you how to move in ways that limit movement. This will keep your spine properly aligned during the healing process. Your doctor will determine when physical therapy may be right for you based on your healing process.
The best thing to keep in mind is to stay patient during your healing process.
- Spinal Fusion – OrthoInfo – AAOS. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/spinal-fusion/
- Tarpada, S. P., Morris, M. T., & Burton, D. A. (2016). Spinal fusion surgery: A historical perspective. Journal of orthopaedics, 14(1), 134–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jor.2016.10.029
- Walker, C. T., Kakarla, U., Chang, S. W., & Sonntag, V. H. (2019). History and advances in spinal neurosurgery, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine SPI, 31(6), 775-785. Retrieved Apr 17, 2020, from https://thejns.org/spine/view/journals/j-neurosurg-spine/31/6/article-p775.xml
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WID1p_UJZIM
