Procedure for Spinal Fusion Surgery

What is Spinal Fusion Surgery

Spinal fusion Surgery is a surgical intervention done to correct problems of the spinal vertebrae (bones of the spine). This surgical technique works on the concept of the “welding process”. The requirement of this technique is to simply fuse the painful vertebrae together. As a result of this and the healing process, a single, solid bone is formed. Spinal fusion is a permanent surgery used to connect two or more spinal vertebrae to eliminate the movement in between them.

Indications of Spinal Fusion Surgery

Spinal fusion surgery is primarily indicated to connect two or more spinal vertebrae permanently for improving stability, for correction of a deformity or for back pain relief. Objectives of a Spinal fusion are:

• For removing the bone and tissue which narrow the spinal canal and result in squeezing the spinal cord and/or the spinal nerves.
• Spinal Fusion Surgery can be performed as a follow-up procedure after surgeries that were done to treat problems such as herniated disc injuries, spinal stenosis, infection, and tumors
• For relieving back problem symptoms caused by:
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Abnormal spine curvatures like scoliosis or Kyphosis
  • Fracture
  • Unstable or weak spine as a result of infection    

Spinal Fusion Complications

Usually, the spinal fusion is a safe intervention. However, the spinal fusion procedure has its own complications. Some of the spinal fusion complications are:

• Blood loss
• Allergic reaction to medicines/anaesthesia
• Infection of wound or vertebral bones
• Problems related to breathing
• Infection in kidney, bladder or lungs
• Spinal nerve damage, resulting in complications like loss of sensation, weakness, pain, with bowels or bladder issues
• Vertebral degeneration specifically to the vertebrae above and below the spinal fusion site resulting in other serious complications
• Fatal complications like blood clots in the lower limbs which could travel to the lungs
• Heart attack or stroke

Spinal Fusion Surgery FAQs

Some important frequently asked questions are as follows:
Question: Is blood transfusion required during the procedure?
Answer: There could be some amount of blood loss during the surgical intervention. If the blood loss is minimal, a blood transfusion might not be required. More extensive surgeries may sometimes require a blood transfusion.

Question: What is the duration of hospitalization required for this procedure?
Answer: Depending on the procedure as well as the case severity; the hospitalization duration can be approximately between an overnight stay to a week.

Question: After how long can a person be able to walk?
Answer: After the spine surgery, the patient is usually encouraged to start walking the very next day.

Question: Are physiotherapy sessions required after the surgery?
Answer: Post the surgery, the patient is recommended physiotherapy sessions as they facilitate to maintain a good posture and also educate the patients to move the spine in the right way.

Question: How should I decide if an allograft or autograft bone is required?
Answer: The choice of an allograft (donor’s bone) or autograft (bone graft is taken from the patient's hip) bone is subjective. An allograft and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is used in single-level fusions, and autograft is used for multilevel fusions. A higher fusion success rate is observed in single level fusion, and in multilevel fusions, using bone harvested from the patient's hip.

Question: Is there any specific position required while sleeping?
Answer: No specific sleeping position is recommended.

Question: When can I resume work?
Answer: Resuming work usually depends on the profession type. If a lot of physical stress is required at work it is advisable to wait for 3 to 6 months before resuming work. Professionals with a sedentary lifestyle can resume work in 3 weeks.

Question: What is the success rate of Spinal Fusion Surgery?
Answer: Spinal decompression surgery has a high success rate for approximately 90% of the patients for relief from the leg pain post-surgery.