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Spinal Fusion
Extensive experience treating extreme cases
Spinal fusion
Spinal fusion is surgery to permanently join together two or more bones in the spine so there is no movement between them.
When spinal nerves become irritated or inflamed due to a degenerative condition in the spine that is causing a pinched nerve, the result may be severe acute or chronic back pain, as well as pain, numbness, and muscle weakness that extends elsewhere into the body, such as the hips, buttocks, or legs.
The Spine Center in Nairobi, Kenya is dedicated to providing the best results possible for our patients. No two cases are identical, even if both patients have the same diagnosis. Every body is different, and every medical occurrence is unique.
Therefore, we take a very individualized approach to spinal treatment.
Spinal fusion variations
The first step is an examination, discussion, and necessary diagnostics. Once the underlying cause of your symptoms has been determined, we will explain available treatment options.
If Lumbar spinal fusion is recommended, your surgeon will explain the technique to be used. Your surgeon may choose:
Lateral spinal fusion – This technique involves a tiny incision, giving the surgeon access to vertebra from the side. This method gives the surgeon access the spine, while avoiding major back muscles.
Anterior spinal fusion – An incision, about three to five inches in length, is created in the abdominal area. The incision is normally located just above or to the side of the stomach.
Benefits of spinal fusion
The procedure reduces pressure on nerve roots and spinal cord, relieving pain, weakness, numbness, and other back problems.
Reduced occurrence of debilitating pain. Vertebral problems can cause excruciating pain. Regardless of the underlying diagnosis, there is a good chance you will gain relief from associated pain if your specialist has appropriately recommended spinal fusion surgery.
Spinal fusion surgery can help create a much stronger structure so that repeated surgery to correct instability may not be necessary.
Many individuals who have one- or two-level fusion surgeries (especially for spinal stenosis patients) notice an increase in their range of movement.
What are the risks of spinal fusion surgery?
Spinal fusion surgery, like any surgery, has risk factors that must be taken into consideration before undergoing the procedure. The spinal fusion surgery risks include but are not limited to:
- Graft site pain. Uncommon, but still a possibility, a small percentage of patients notice persistent discomfort or pain at the site of the bone graft.
- Infection in the wound or vertebral bones
- Excessive bleeding. Minor bleeding occurs with almost all surgeries. The possibility of excessive bleeding does exist, but is only usually a factor in multilevel fusion surgeries.
- Spinal Fluid Leak: Your nerves are packaged with a clear fluid inside a sac of delicate tissue called the dura, that can be torn inadvertently during spinal surgery.
Conditions treated using spinal fusion surgery
The beauty of spinal fusion surgery is in its diversity. It can be used to treat pain and discomfort caused by conditions and injuries such as degenerative disk disease, fracture, infection, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and tumors.
Most patients who receive spinal fusion surgery are able to resume their normal, active lifestyles
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What is involved in a spinal fusion surgery?
There is a variety of techniques for performing spinal fusion surgery. The technique your surgeon uses depends on the location of the vertebrae to be fused and the reason for the spinal fusion.
Incision. To gain access to the vertebrae being fused, the surgeon makes an incision in one of three locations: in your neck or back directly over your spine, on either side of your spine, or in your abdomen or throat to access the spine from the front.
Bone graft preparation. The bone grafts that fuse two vertebrae together may come from your own body, usually from your pelvis. If your own bone is used, the surgeon makes an incision above your pelvic bone, removes a small portion of it and then closes the incision.
Fusion. To fuse the vertebrae together permanently, the surgeon places the bone graft material between the vertebrae. Metal plates, screws or rods may be used to help hold the vertebrae together while the bone graft heals.
Recovery after Spinal Fusion Surgery
As the back continues to heal, patients usually start to feel better and find they can take on more activities.
The worst pain is generally over by four weeks after surgery. Pain is likely to continue to decrease gradually, but some patients continue to have pain until three to six months after surgery.
It is important to be careful and to view pain as a warning to slow down.