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The purpose of a spinal fusion is to eliminate motion causing pain in a vertebral segment. By fusing the segment together and ceasing the movement the pain should decrease. Spinal fusion surgery requires a bone graft to create the fusion.
Spinal Fusion Bone Grafts
Autograft Fusion - When an autograft fusion is performed, bone from another section of your body (usually the hip) is harvested to fuse the two vertebral segments together. An autograft can also be termed an autotransplant or an autologous.
Allograft Fusion - When undergoing an allograft fusion the bone is harvested from a human donor with a different genotype. An allograft may also be termed an allogeneic graft or a homograft.
Synthetic Bone Graft - These are manufactured bone grafts that can be used in spinal fusion surgery
The following conditions are commonly treated with spinal fusion surgery; degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, unstable spine caused by tumors or infections, scoliosis, fractures or deformities.
Spinal Fusion Complications
When a vertebral segment is fused together it is commonly termed a one level spinal fusion. When considering spinal fusion surgery there are many factors you must fully understand.
Mobility - a patient who successfully undergoes one level of spinal fusion will most often not notice any reduction in mobility.
If needed, two vertebral segments of the spine may be a reasonable treatment for pain management but the reduction of movement in the spine will begin to become apparent.
There are very rare cases when three or more levels of spinal fusion are required for pain treatment with scoliosis being the rare exception to the rule. When the mobility of the spine is compromised and there is a lack of natural motion, a large amount of pressure placed on the remaining joints causing more pain then is often corrected.
Fuse Rejection - The biggest challenge when performing spinal fusion surgery is getting the new fused bone to grow. Although there are ways to inspire the bones growth, like many other things there are drawbacks.
Spinal Problems After Fusion - When a segment is fused to reduce mobility there are extra forces applied to that area from that point on. This may cause problems in the future in areas located around that segment. This is one of the main concerns for spinal fusion surgery, and with advancements in medical technology today, spinal fusion is often considered a last resort.
Spinal Fusion Risks
Common to other forms of major surgery, blood loss and infection are also risks to be considered when undergoing spinal fusion surgery. If you have concerns, you should discuss them with your doctor before you proceed with your procedure.
One of the major concerns for most patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery is possible damage occurring in the spinal canal, more specifically the spinal cord. The risk level involved will obviously be dependent on the extent of fusion that is required. Although most conditions will improve after the spinal fusion surgery, there are still risks to consider and discuss with your doctor. In recent advancements some fusion surgeries can make use of nerve monitoring devices to make sure the nerve is functioning properly.
Smoking and how it Relates to Spinal Fusion Recovery
Although I am sure you hear it from everyone, including your own kids, smoking is not good for you. Well now that I have enlightened you with information you already should have known, let me relate it to spinal fusion surgery. Recent discoveries have shown that smoking impedes bone growth success after fusion surgery by 500%. With this in mind it only makes sense that if you are going to undergo this major surgery, maybe you should consider tossing away those cigarettes.