Definition of Spinal fusion:

Spinal fusion is surgery to join together two bones (vertebrae) in the spine. Fusion permanently joins two bones together so there is no longer movement between them. Spinal fusion is usually done along with other surgical procedures of the spine.

Description:

You will be asleep and feel no pain (general anesthesia).

The doctor will make a surgical cut to view the spine. This may be done:

• On your back or neck over the spine. You will be lying face down. Muscles and tissue are separated to expose the spine.
• On one side of your belly, if you are having surgery on your lower back. The surgeon will use tools called retractors to gently separate, hold the soft tissues and blood vessels apart, and have room to work.
• With a cut on the front of the neck, toward the side.

Other surgery, such as a diskectomy, laminectomy, or a foraminotomy, is almost always done first.

The surgeon will use a graft (such as bone) to hold (or fuse) the bones together permanently. There are several different ways of fusing vertebrae together:

• Strips of bone graft material may be placed over the back part of the spine.
• Bone graft material may be placed between the vertebrae.
• Special cages may be placed between the vertebrae. These cages are packed with bone graft material.

The surgeon may get the graft from different places:

• From another part of your body (usually around your pelvic bone). This is called an autograft. Your surgeon will make a small cut over your hip and remove some bone from the back of the rim of the pelvis.
• From a bone bank, called allograft.
• A synthetic bone substitute can also be used.

The vertebrae are often also fixed together with rods, screws, plates, or cages. They are used to keep the vertebrae from moving until the bone grafts fully healed.

Surgery can take 3 to 4 hours.

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

Spinal fusion may be done in the following cases:

• Along with other surgical procedures for spinal stenosis, such as foraminotomy or laminectomy
• After diskectomy in the neck
• Injury or fractures to the bones in the spine
• Weak or unstable spine caused by infections or tumors
• Spondylolisthesis, a condition in which one vertebrae slips forward on top of another
• Abnormal curvatures, such as those from scoliosis or kyphosis

Spinal fusion may also be done along with other surgeries to treat spinal stenosis. These surgeries are done to make more room for your spinal nerve and column (such as foraminotomy or laminectomy). See: Spinal stenosis for more information

You and your doctor can decide when you need to have surgery.