Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion surgery has been used to improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Effective for treating a variety of back and spine-related conditions, it’s a common surgical measure for dealing with spinal degeneration or pain-related issues.

Common spinal fusion procedures performed at Texas Health Center for Diagnostics & Surgery include: 

Neck 

Cervical (neck) fusion

Cervical fusion is a surgical procedure that links together damaged segments of the vertebral column in the neck. Cervical spinal fusion surgery is most frequently used to stabilize the spine. However, it is most often performed for degenerative conditions, to take the pressure off the nerves in your neck and stabilize the spine, helping relieve pain in the process. 

Anterior cervical fusion

The anterior approach to cervical fusion — also known as an ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) — entails surgeons operating through the front of the neck as opposed to the back of the neck. Carried out under general anesthesia, the relevant muscles and blood vessels are temporarily moved aside so that the surgeon can access the spine itself. 

Posterior cervical fusion 

Posterior cervical fusion is performed through an incision in the back of the neck. Both anterior and posterior access have their own particular uses, and your surgeon will advise which is preferable for your condition before carrying out the procedure.

Lower Back 

Lumbar fusion is one of the most common surgical approaches for treating lower back pain. And there are a wide number of techniques used to perform a lumbar fusion, all with the goal of fusing the vertebrae together. Each procedure has its own advantages and disadvantages that your surgeon will discuss with you. Some of these techniques include: 

Posterior lumbar fusion 

Posterior lumbar fusion is the most common type of fusion surgery for low back pain. It is used to treat spine instability, severe degenerative disc disease, and fractures in the lumbar spine. With this surgery, two or more vertebrae are fused together into one solid bone. During the procedure the spine is accessed through an incision in the back. It may be performed by traditional open spine surgery or by minimally invasive methods, depending on which approach best addresses the patient’s needs and anatomy. Instrumentation such as screws and rods will be used to stabilize the spine.

Lateral interbody fusion surgery 

This type of minimally invasive surgery is performed by approaching the spine from the patient’s side to remove the disc tissue causing pain and to join two or more vertebrae together.

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)

Anterior lumbar interbody fusion is performed by approaching through the patient’s abdomen. a type of spinal fusion used for treating problems such as disc degeneration, spine instability, and deformities in the low back area of the spine. An incision is made in the abdomen, the disc material is removed, and the lumbar spine bones are fused together.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion is a surgery in which the front part of the lumbar spine is fused from the back.  that involves the removal of a disc between two vertebrae and fusing them together. This type of surgery is recommended for those suffering from degenerative disc disease and other conditions that cause low back pain. This surgery is performed approaching the spine from the back.

Anterior/Posterior lumbar fusion (360) 

This procedure involves fusing the spine from both the back and the front. It’s quite common for lumbar fusions, as it involves an entry through both the abdomen and the back — this allows the surgeon to work more easily on the spine.

Understanding the risks

Spinal fusion can be carried out very safely. However, like any other major surgery, it does carry certain risks and the potential for side effects. Some of the most common risks can include: 

Reduced mobility 

Although spinal fusion surgery can be very effective at restoring quality of life and reducing pain, it can sometimes be at the cost of slightly more restricted movement. There may be certain activities that you’re no longer able to participate in, such as contact sports. Although for most patients, this is a trade-off that they’re willing to make, it’s still something worth considering prior to surgery. 

Potential future surgeries 

Fusion can be a very effective way to address pain and other issues, but it may be necessary to have future fusions over time. This can occur due to other nearby vertebrae absorbing additional stress and deteriorating more quickly.  

However, your surgeon will discuss all of these risks prior to performing the surgery. You will be able to make an informed decision about whether this is the right option for your particular spine issues.