Lumbar Fusion

A procedure where damaged herniated disc and arthritic bone is removed and substituted with a spacer. This is meant to remove the pressure off the nerve and and combine the vertebrae from above and below.

This can be done at 1 or multiple levels.

  • There are many ways to obtain a fusion.

    Screws, rods, and bone graft are used in conjuction with spacers or on their own obtain fusion. Spacers can be placed in between the vertebral bones (whether it be through the abdomen, through the side, through the back) to increase fusion rates and alignment.

    Painful areas of motion are stabilized.

    1. Relieve nerve compression

    2. Remove damaged disc

    3. Achieve fusion to connect vertebrae through the disc space to take away painful motion

  • Depending on medical history, age, and surgical extent, some patients may spend one or multiple nights in the hospital for therapy and pain control.

    Soreness from the incision site can remain for a week or two. Muscles can spasm from surgery as they do not like getting pushed around. Nerve relief can be felt within days.

    Nerves can be finicky, and there can be periodic pain episodes that happen due to nerve irritation from surgery.

    Return to work times vary, some people are able to return to light work 3 week after surgery. For those with a very physically demanding job, return to work may not happen until 3 months after surgery.

  • Item description

  • There is no surgery without risks. They include but are not limited to: bad reaction to anesthesia, increase in low back pain, wound healing issues, surgical site infection, prolonged pain, nerve injury, creating instability in the spine, spinal fluid leak, and the need for additional surgery.