Spinal Fusion
Spinal Fusion
What is it:

Spinal fusion is surgery for connect 2 or more vertebrae in your spine, eliminating motion between them. Throughout correction, your doctor places bone or a bone-like material at intervals the area between 2 spinal vertebrae. Metal plates, screws and rods are also accustomed to hold the vertebrae along, so that they will heal into one solid unit. Spinal fusion is surgical process, sometimes lasting many hours. There are completely different ways of correction. Bone is taken from the girdle bone or from a bone bank. The bone is employed to form a bridge between vertebrae. Metal implants are sometimes accustomed to hold the vertebrae along till new bone grows between them

Before the operation:
  • Allow your doctor to know about all your prescribed or non-prescribed medicines and herbal medicines you are taking
  • Two weeks before surgery, your doctor or nurse might raise you to prevent taking medicines that build it tougher for your blood to clot. These embody painkiller, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines
  • The week before surgery eat foods high in fiber together with fruits, vegetables, beans and whole-grain cereals and breads. Stop eating and drinking for six to eight hours before the operation
  • Your doctor ordered blood test, chest x-ray or EKG before the operation
  • Do not drink alcohol at night before the operation
  • Talk to your doctor regarding any issues you've got relating to the requirement for this operation, its risks, how it'll be done or what the results can mean
The operation:
  • Doctor will give you general anesthesia so that you will be asleep during the procedure and you will not feel any pain during the procedure
  • Doctor will create an incision on your back or neck over the spine. You may be lying face down. Muscles and tissue are separated to show the spine.
  • On your facet, if you're having surgery on your lower back. The doctor can use tools known as retractors to softly separate, hold the soft tissues and blood vessels apart and have area to work
  • The doctor can use a graft to carry the bones along permanently. There are many ways in which of fusing vertebrae together
  • Strips of bone graft material are also placed over the rear a part of the spine. Bone graft material is also placed between the vertebrae. Special cages are also placed between the vertebrae. These cages are choked with bone graft material
  • From another a part of your body : This is often known as an autograft. Your doctor can create a little cut over your hip and take away some bone from the rear of the rim of the pelvis
  • From a bone bank : This is often known as an allograft. An artificial bone substitute may be used. The vertebrae may additionally mount along with rods, screws, plates or cages want to keep the vertebrae from moving till the bone grafts are totally cured
  • Surgery will take three to four hours
After the operation:
  • Hospital stay is normally two to four days after completing the operation
  • It may take many months for the affected bones in your spine to heal and fuse along. Your doctor could advocate that you simply wear a brace for a time to stay your spine aligned properly. Rehabilitation will teach you the way to maneuver, sit, stand and get in a way that keeps your spine properly aligned
  • You'll be told to use a log-rolling technique once obtaining out of bed. This implies that you simply move your entire body at once while not twisting your spine
  • You may not be ready to eat for two to three days. You'll tend nutrients through associate IV. After you deed the hospital, you will have to be compelled to wear a brace or forged
Possible complications:
  • Complications may include infection to the kidney, lung, bladder, blood clot in the leg, infection to the wound, damage to the spinal nerve, breathing issues, pain at the bone graft site, graft rejection or failure of the fusion