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What is a Lumbar Spine Fusion?

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If you suffer from chronic back pain, it can be extremely painful and also disrupt your mobility. When non-surgical treatments such as anti-inflammatory medicine and physical therapy haven’t helped, your physician may recommend undergoing a Lumbar Spine Fusion.

What conditions may require a Lumbar Spine Fusion?
A Lumbar Spine Fusion can be used to treat a number of painful back conditions including:

• Herniated Disc: If you have suffered a herniated disc, your surgeon can fuse the vertebrae above and below the disc to relieve pressure on the nerves.
• Scoliosis and Kyphosis: These conditions, which affect the curvature of the spine, can be treated by fusing specific vertebrae.
• Spinal Instability: Prolonged excessive motion between two vertebrae can weaken the spine over time, leading to severe cases of spinal arthritis. By fusing two vertebrae, the procedure can restore stability and strength to the spine.
• Broken Vertebrae: Many cases of broken vertebrae can heal on their own with proper rest and immobilization. However, if a broken bone is causing spinal instability, your physician may recommend a fusion procedure.
• Spondylolisthesis: This condition is characterized by one of the vertebrae slipping forward, placing pressure on the nerves. This can cause severe pain, as well as numbness or tingling throughout the body. After portions of the displaced vertebra are removed to relieve the pressure on the nerves, fusion can restore stability and maintain relief.

The Procedure, Recovery and Results
The Lumbar Spine Fusion procedure is performed under general anesthesia, so you’ll be unconscious for the duration of the surgery.

Your surgeon will make several small incisions above or to the sides of the lumbar vertebrae (the five vertebrae between the rib cage and the pelvis). He or she will remove any damaged portions of the disc before fusing the vertebrae together using a bone graft.

The graft can be harvested from another area of your body, such as the hip, or acquired from a donor tissue bank. Your surgeon will place the graft between the vertebrae and fuse the bones together using screws, plates, rods, or a combination to promote stability.

Following the procedure, your back will heal over the course of several months. Your physician will give you specific aftercare instructions to help ensure that the fusion is a success and that the results will provide you with long-term relief.

Success rates for Lumbar Fusion Surgery are high, with 80% of patients reporting that they are satisfied with the surgical result. However, as with any surgery, it’s essential to consult with your physician and carefully weigh all options and risks before proceeding. Contact us today!

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