Spinal fusion is a surgical operation used to correct problems associated with spinal cord and back pain. It involves the placement of metals held together with metal screws on the patients back. The goal of this operation is to control the vertebra pain and that of the spinal cord. There are some pros and cons associated with this type of operation.
What is Spinal Fusion?
Spinal fusion surgery is performed in patients with back pain problems. The procedure is performed when segmental instability causes the patient serious pain. The expectation for performing spinal fusion is that pain relief would be the outcome. Such expectation is based on the theory that if all goes well the fusion would ultimately restrict motion in the segments where the pain is emanating from.
Pros of Spinal fusion-Pain Relief
Spinal fusion can relieve nerve and back pain if the operation. The surgery can create more space around the spinal cord and the nerve roots. However, care has to be taken, to ensure that there are no caused instability around the affected areas of the surgery. Nevertheless, this operation can reduce the spinal region and back pain. Fusion operation can guarantee that such patient may not need another surgery at that particular level. It could also ensure that motion will be stopped at the particular level where this procedure was carried out.
Reduces Post Decompressive Deformity
Spinal fusion surgery can also reduce the post-decompressive deformity. This operation can also lead to corrections on pre-existing deformities which the patient has. Once these issues are corrected, the patient would have a normal re-alignment of their spine, restored to its original position. Consequently this correction may ultimately reduce the wear and tear of other neighbouring levels. Such reduction would mean that the chances of such patient having another surgery on the same bone level is minimal.
Cons of Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion has some disadvantages as well. This operation largely involves a lot of bone work and procedures. There is a possibility that in future there may be a need for additional bone surgery. During the spinal fusion, some parts of the patient's vertebra may become exposed. Consequently, the muscles have to be dissected in order to complete this procedure. Inflammations can result occasionally as a result of the spinal fusion operation.
Stress and Nerve Irritations
The spinal fusion surgery involves using rods and screws to try to stabilize bones. There is a possibility that some of the hardware used in this operation may cause the patient some irritation. It is also possible to develop some leg weakness through this procedure. There is a syndrome which may also result from the spinal fusion surgery, known as the "adjacent segment disease." There is some unsettled debate among spine surgeons about the development of this syndrome after the spinal fusion surgery. The "adjacent segment syndrome" theory believes that the rigid segment may cause the mobile segment some stresses. This, in turn, can lead to degeneration of the affected parts.
Tags: fusion surgery, back pain, spinal cord, Spinal fusion, spinal fusion surgery
