Spinal fusion surgery

Spinal fusion is known as a surgical procedure where a group of vertebrae in the spine is stopped from moving as a result of back pain, which helps to relieve repeated pressure on the nerves near the vertebrae or on the muscles and ligaments.

Spinal fusion surgery involves filling the spaces between the vertebrae of the spine, either with pieces of bone taken from the body (thigh or pelvic bone) or artificial bone or from a donor (allograft), thus stimulating the fusion of the vertebrae by attaching them to the new bone connections to become one immobile piece. Although spinal fusion surgery limits the movement of the back but it does not cause complete motor disability as rumored.

Spinal fusion can be done either for the cervical, thoracic or for sacral vertebrae.

Spinal fusion surgery is performed for the following reasons:

• To relieve back pain.
• Incidence of lateral inclinations of the vertebrae or what is known as scoliosis.
• Spinal weakness or instability due to abnormal vertebral movement.
• In cases of removal of damaged cartilage disc.
• Spinal tumors.
• Spinal stenosis.
• Fractures of the vertebrae.

The patient undergoes a set of tests before the spinal fusion surgery following the instructions of the surgeon, the most important of which are:

• Clinical examination.
• X-ray examination.
• MRI scans.
• CT scan.

Like all other surgeries, spinal fusion surgery may include some complications and risks, including: 

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Continuous pain at the bone graft site.
• Recurrence back pain as before the surgery.
• Pseudarthrosis in the absence of adequate bone formation, diabetics and smokers are the most vulnerable to such conditions.
• Damage to nerves and vascular vessels adjacent to the affected vertebrae.
• Blood clots in the leg.
• Complications associated with the anesthesia, such as shortness of breath and others.

Spinal fusion surgery consists of the following stages:

1. Anesthesia of the patient (general anesthetic).
2. Making an incision depending on the location of the injury in the spine.
3. Bone graft between the vertebrae; bone graft is taken either from the patient's pelvic or thigh bone or from a donor (after matching both tissues to each other to avoid rejection of new tissue by the patient's body), or it may be artificial graft.
4. Apply metal plates or screws in the body of the vertebrae for fixation during the period of bone construction.
5. Close the incisions and covered with bandages.

(Will be added soon, God willing)

Spinal fusion surgery requires approximately 3 to 6 months of recovery period, as the patient needs to stay in touch with the neurosurgeon responsible for his case for a whole year, including visits on time to ensure the success of the operation spinal fusion surgery. During this period the patient must adhere to the surgeon's instructions that follow the spinal fusion surgery.

The surgeon prescribes some painkillers medication taken by the patient for a specified period, and then after approximately 6 weeks the patient attends multiple sessions of physiotherapy under the supervision of a specialist in this field, it can be done for about 3 months, during which the patient's ability to walk, sit and do many physical activities improves, but the recovery and return to normal activities may be slightly delayed for almost a year.

During the recovery period, the patient should avoid any actions that may cause back pain and reduce the chances of good healing, such as avoiding carrying heavy weights or bending the back or twisting either side.

(Will be updated soon, God willing)

• Herniated disc surgery
• Spinal stenosis surgery

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Last updated on 24 October, 2021

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1. Park DK. 2018. Spinal fusion. Retrieved from https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/treatment/spinal-fusion/ 
2. Mayo Clinic. 2020. Spinal fusion. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/spinal-fusion/about/pac-20384523 
3. Giorgi A. 2019. Spinal fusion surgery. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/spinal-fusion 
4. Zelman D. 2020. What is spinal fusion? Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/spinal-fusion-facts 
5. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Minimally invasive spinal fusion. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/minimally-invasive-spinal-fusion 
6. Ulrich P. 2013. Lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Retrieved from https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/spinal-fusion/lumbar-spinal-fusion-surgery 
7. How to care for yourself after lumbar spinal fusion [PDF document]. 2012. Retrieved from https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/neurosurgery/LumbarSpinalFusion.pdf