Some injuries to the spine require surgery to fix and spinal fusion is one of these options.
The techniques used for this surgery work to mimic a broken bone’s natural healing process. Getting the facts about this surgery is imperative to ensure that patients are fully informed.
Why It is Done
One of the primary reasons this surgery is done is for a herniated disk. In severe herniations, the disk sometimes has to be removed to allow for healing. Fusing the vertebrae can help to stabilize the spine following disk removal.
Herniated disks are common injuries. They can occur after a fall, improper lifting or lifting something very heavy.
Preparation
The doctor typically orders imaging studies before surgery, such as MRI or CT scan. This allows the doctor to better assess the severity of the injury before getting the patient into the operating room.
Patients are typically advised to avoid drinking and eating the night before the surgery. It is important that the doctor is aware of the medications that patients take. Certain drugs, such as blood thinners, may need to be stopped temporarily to reduce some of the risks during the recovery period.
Before the surgery, the patient’s general health is evaluated. People with certain medical conditions, such as heart issues or sleep apnea, may require special care when they are under anesthesia.
Procedure
This surgery is performed using general anesthesia so that the patient is asleep during the procedure. There are several techniques that a doctor might use for spinal fusion. The exact technique they use depends on the reason someone is having the surgery, the location of fusion and the patient’s body shape and general health.
In general, the surgery begins with the doctor making the necessary incisions to visualize the vertebra they need to work on. They may make incisions on the front of the body or back of the body depending on the approach they plan to take.
The next step involves obtaining a bone graft from the patient’s own body or the bone bank. When using the patient’s own body, the pelvic bones are typically where the graft comes from.
Finally, the doctor removes the offending disk and uses the graft to fuse the vertebra together. To keep the bones together, the doctor may also insert screws, plates or rods.
Risks and Recovery
Most people spend two to three days in the hospital after this surgery. It is possible to experience pain that medications can help to control.
It can take several months before the bones fuse together completely. Follow all of the recovery instructions exactly. Make sure to attend all follow-up and imaging appointments that help to assess the patient’s recovery.
This procedure is considered generally safe, but like all surgeries, there are risks that patients should be aware of:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blood vessel injury
- Nerve injury
- Poor wound healing
- Blood clots
- Bone graft site pain