What You Should Know About Having Spinal Fusion Surgery
If you've had an injury to your spine that's made it unstable or fractured, it's probably giving you a lot of pain. The pain occurs because portions of your spine move independently of each other and they can pinch nerves and tissues when they are out of alignment. Your doctor may suggest a spinal fusion to correct the problem and decrease your pain. Here's a quick overview of this medical procedure.
Fusing Your Spine With A Bone Graft
A spinal fusion involves grafting bone to the unstable parts of the spine to hold them in place and cause them to move as a single unit. The bone used for the graft may come from a bone bank or it can be taken from your hip bone. The doctor may even decide to use artificial bone. The bone is attached with a metal plate and screws to hold it in place while it fuses with your spine. Once your spine has healed, it will be held in proper alignment and be prevented from shifting in that area. The end result should be less pain as you go through your daily activities.
How The Procedure Is Done …show more content…
The doctor will make an incision over your spine and work on it from the back, or the incision can be made over your abdomen so the doctor can work on your spine through the front. If you'll donate bone from your hip, it is removed at the same time you have the fusion operation. Once bone graft is in place, the incision is closed. Since this is an invasive surgery, you can expect some pain and discomfort when you wake up. You will probably need pain medication for a few
If you've had an injury to your spine that's made it unstable or fractured, it's probably giving you a lot of pain. The pain occurs because portions of your spine move independently of each other and they can pinch nerves and tissues when they are out of alignment. Your doctor may suggest a spinal fusion to correct the problem and decrease your pain. Here's a quick overview of this medical procedure.
Fusing Your Spine With A Bone Graft
A spinal fusion involves grafting bone to the unstable parts of the spine to hold them in place and cause them to move as a single unit. The bone used for the graft may come from a bone bank or it can be taken from your hip bone. The doctor may even decide to use artificial bone. The bone is attached with a metal plate and screws to hold it in place while it fuses with your spine. Once your spine has healed, it will be held in proper alignment and be prevented from shifting in that area. The end result should be less pain as you go through your daily activities.
How The Procedure Is Done …show more content…
The doctor will make an incision over your spine and work on it from the back, or the incision can be made over your abdomen so the doctor can work on your spine through the front. If you'll donate bone from your hip, it is removed at the same time you have the fusion operation. Once bone graft is in place, the incision is closed. Since this is an invasive surgery, you can expect some pain and discomfort when you wake up. You will probably need pain medication for a few