What is Spinal Fusion?

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that addresses back pain by correcting problems with the vertebrae of the back . The spine is stabilized by fusing together two or more vertebrae, using bone grafts and metal rods and screws. Spinal fusion is used to treat: -Injuries to spinal vertebrae -Protrusion and degeneration of the cushioning disk between vertebrae (sometimes called slipped disk or herniated disk) -Abnormal curvatures of the spine (such as scoliosis or kyphosis) -Weak or unstable spine caused by infections or tumors Spinal fusion eliminates motion between vertebral segments, which can be a significant source of pain in some patients. The surgery also stops the progress of spinal deformity, such as scoliosis. Spinal fusion will take away some spinal flexibility. But most spinal fusions involve only small segments of the spine and thus do not limit motion very much. Bone is the most commonly used material to help promote fusion of the vertebrae. Generally, small pieces of bone are placed into the space between the vertebrae to be fused. Sometimes larger solid pieces are used to provide immediate structural support. The bone is either supplied by the patient (autogenous bone) or harvested from other individuals (allograft bone). After bone grafting, the vertebrae are held together to allow fusion to progress. The bones are held immobile with metal rods and screws. External bracing or casting may also be used. Both forms of immobilization may be necessary in some patients.

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