Overview

Spinal fusion involves connecting two bones in the spine to restrict any movement between them. This surgical procedure is performed to connect two or more vertebrae in the spine permanently. Spinal fusion aims to eliminate motion between the fused vertebrae, stabilise the spine, and potentially alleviate symptoms such as pain, weakness, or instability. It can also be termed a welding process in layman's language. It helps to lower the pain in the back caused due to arthritis, an injury, or any other medical condition. A spinal fusion involves inserting a bone-like structure or a durable substitute between the bones to keep the bones connected. The surgery is also helpful in the case of the spine bending sideways, a condition termed as scoliosis. The surgery helps to reshape the spine and avoid spine instability and weakness. If a person experiences pain while performing activities that involve the spine, he or she must consult a doctor. Spine surgery may be recommended if the problem has aggravated and cannot be managed with medications and exercises. It helps avoid pain and allows one to resume the normal routine without further obstructions. The surgery can also be combined with other surgeries if the spinal nerves are pressurised due to diseased tissues in different body parts. Only a small fragment of the spine is operated on in the procedure; hence permanent restrictions after spinal fusion are less.

Who should get a spinal fusion surgery done?

Mentioned below are the situations when doctors advise you to go in for a spinal fusion surgery:

- Degenerative Disc Disease- In the case of degenerative disc disease, the cushiony support between the vertebrae wears down with time. Hence, the individual experiences pain and discomfort while moving or bending down. The spinal fusion surgery helps to get rid of this pain. It is helpful in situations such as pain in the neck and head. In addition, the surgery helps identify the disorder's root cause and heal it to lower the pain.
- Spinal Stenosis- Spinal stenosis is when the space between the spine's bones narrows due to wear and tear or other medical reasons. It can pressurise the nerves of the spine leading to pain and discomfort. A spinal fusion surgery helps to get rid of the pain and also aligns the misaligned bones of the spine with the help of rods and screws.
- Spondylolisthesis- It happens when one of the bones from the vertebrae slips out, disturbing the correct posture of the spine. It leads to pain and the inability of the affected individual to move or bend down. Spinal fusion helps to operate the bone out of the posture and keep the bones connected with the help of bone graft until new bone grows over these grafts.
- Spinal fractures- Severe fractures in the spine may require fusion to stabilise the injured area.
- Spinal deformities- Conditions like scoliosis or kyphosis, which involve abnormal curvature of the spine, may require fusion surgery in certain cases.
- Spinal tumours- Fusion surgery may be necessary to stabilise the spine after tumour removal.

Risks of Spinal Fusion

Mentioned below are some of the possibilities or risk factors of a spinal fusion surgery that can cause discomfort to an operated patient:

- Infection- Infection is one of the most common risks after surgery. It may worsen the surgical site and lead to multiple other health issues. The infection can also hamper the vertebrae and the screws and rods inserted during the surgery. To avoid worsening the situation, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics according to the condition to lower the attack of the germs on the vertebrae or surgical site.
- Blood Clots- Blood clots are another issue in the case of any spinal surgery. The surgery leading to mobility restriction due to joining two bones firmly with rods and screws might lead to blood clotting. Doctors may suggest blood thinners and other effective medications to avoid harmful incidences.
- Bleeding- Though rare, bleeding can also cause complications after the spinal injury. It can happen due to damages caused to the blood vessels surrounding the surgical area. Hence, to lower the damages caused due to bleeding, the doctor may suggest certain preventive measures or perform surgical actions to stop the excessive bleeding immediately.
- Poor Posture- Spinal fusion involves joining two bones improperly aligned to avoid pain and discomfort. But if the surgery is done properly, it may allow back movement in an incorrect method. Hence, this may result in spine pain for a long time. To avoid the situation, the doctor may have to redo the surgery and correct the posture of the spine to avoid pain and the compression of the nerves around it.
- Nerve damage- Nerves in the spinal cord or nearby structures may be damaged during the surgical procedure, leading to sensory or motor deficits, pain, or weakness.
- Nonunion or pseudarthrosis- In some cases, the fusion may not heal properly, resulting in a condition called nonunion or pseudarthrosis. This may necessitate additional surgery.
- Instrumentation problems- The screws, rods, or plates used to stabilise the spine during fusion may shift or break. This can require revision surgery to correct the problem

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert Ortho doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.

Conclusion 

Spinal fusion is a spine surgery involving properly positioning imbalanced bones of the vertebrae. This surgical procedure is performed to connect two or more vertebrae in the spine permanently. In addition, the surgery helps to correct the posture of the individual, which may be disturbed due to different medical conditions or an injury.

FAQs

Q. What is spinal fusion? A. Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure of placement of spine bones that are misaligned due to different medical conditions or an injury.

Q. What are the risk factors of spinal surgery? A. Blood clots, infection, or leakage of the spinal fluid are accounted for as the risk factors of spinal surgery.

Q. Who is suggested to get spinal fusion surgery done? A. People suffering from back, leg, and hand pain due to herniated discs, spinal stenosis, infection in the spine, or an injury caused in the lower back can be some of the reasons for spinal fusion surgery.