Spinal Fusion : Treatment, Procedure, Cost And Side Effects

A surgical process called spinal fusion joins two or more spinal bones together so that there is no space between them. Extra bone is utilised during a spinal fusion to cover the space between the two individual vertebrae. There won't be any space between them once the bone has healed. It is also known as spondylodesis and spondylosyndesis. It helps to prevent movements between fused vertebrae.

Summary- Spinal fusion is a surgical technique used to treat damaged vertebrates.

Treatment of spinal problems includes spinal fusion. It helps to reduce movements between two vertebrates. Additionally, it aids in the management of the following conditions:

• Scoliosis
• Tumors
• Kyphosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Herniated discs
• Fractured vertebrae
• Spinal weakness
• Degenerative disc disease

Summary- Spinal fusion is used for the treatment of tumors, kyphosis, herniated discs, spinal weakness and other spinal disorders.

The steps involved in the procedure of spinal fusion are:

• Surgery will be performed under general anaesthesia
• You will be asked to lie down and your blood pressure and heartbeat will be monitored throughout the surgery.
• The doctor will make an incision to operate.
• The vertebrae will be fused using the bone transplant.
• The doctor will insert the bone graft through the incision between the affected vertebrae.
• Some screws, rods and plates can be used to prevent any movements of the affected vertebrae.

Summary- During the procedure, the doctor makes an incision to insert a bone graft and uses screws and rods to avoid movements.

Some complications associated with spinal fusion are:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clot
• Reactions to medicines
• Improper wound healing
• Blood loss
• Stroke
• Breathing problems
• Pain

Summary- Complications of spinal fusion are: Blood clots, bleeding, stroke, pain, breathing problems and infection.

Recovery after the procedure might take some time. After the surgery, it will be recommended to remain in the hospital for a few days. The doctor will keep monitoring your overall health and heartbeat during this time.

There will be three tubes attached to your body during this time. The first one will be IV, which will be used to provide antibiotics, fluids, and medicines. Second will be the epidural catheter, which will be used to provide painkillers. Third will be the catheter, which will be used for urine discharge.

Summary- You will be kept under observation after the surgery, to monitor your overall medical condition.

Some common side effects of spine fusion are:

• Infection
• Blood clot
• Blood loss
• Injury to blood vessels
• Pain
• Improper wound healing

Summary- Side-effects of spine fusion, bleeding, infection, pain, injury and blood loss.

Post-treatment guidelines for spinal fusion include:

• Avoid strenuous activities
• Keep away from any kind of exertion
• Take no stress
• Eat nutritious and healthy foods
• Sleep well
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Wear comfortable clothes

Summary- Aftercare guidelines for spinal fusion are: take a healthy diet, sleep well, take plenty of fluids and avoid strenuous activities.

Varying patients may experience different recovery times. The full recovery from this surgery will take about one or two months.

Summary- Recovery from spine fusion will take one to two months.

The price of spinal fusion treatments in India can be Rs. 2,00,000 to Rs. 9,00,000.

Using the Lybrate website, you can locate a general physician in your area. You just need to add the necessary details like address, phone number and pin code to find a surgeon near you. At Lybrate.com, you can make appointments with renowned surgeons. With Lybrate, you can easily and immediately schedule your appointment with the doctor.

Summary- You can use the Lybrate app or website to find the best doctors for spinal fusion surgery.

Surgery for spinal fusion is typically a very successful operation. The consequences are irreversible once the fusion has taken place, hence the outcomes may be eternal.

Summary- Yes, the results of the treatment are permanent.

You have a lot of other options to consider outside big surgery like spinal fusion. Depending on the precise cause of your back discomfort, it will be possible to decide which alternative method is ideal for you. In some situations, there may be more than one option available. Here are a few treatments that have worked well for our patients in reducing back pain to get you started.

Epidural steroid injections

Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) may provide a non-surgical option to relieve your pain if your suffering is being brought on by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis pinching your nerves. By lowering the inflammation causing nerve compression, this injection can be given into your lumbar spine to treat lower back and leg pain.

Stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy is an additional back pain therapeutic option. The unique quality of stem cells is their capacity to differentiate into cells of various body tissues. The discs and facet joints in your body, as well as other damaged areas, can be repaired by stem cells.

The stem cells used in this procedure come from your own body. Your hip bone's iliac crest will be used to extract the bone marrow, which will then be processed until just the stem cells are left. The damaged tissue will be regenerated by being injected with the stem cells once they have been separated from the plasma and red blood cells. This safe, slightly invasive therapy typically lasts less than an hour.

Artificial Disc Replacement

Many people's discomfort is brought on by a severely degenerated spinal disc. In that situation, an alternative to spinal fusion that offers greater mobility and quicker recovery is artificial disc replacement. Even though it still involves operation, recovery is typically quicker than with spinal fusion.

Artificial disc replacement also has the benefit of having less of an effect on spinal mobility. After healing, a patient can almost completely restore their spine's normal movement by simply replacing the damaged disc. Furthermore, minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures can be used to replace artificial discs. As a result, the patient is only unconscious for a brief duration and recovers relatively quickly.

Summary- Various alternatives to the treatment are: Epidural injections, Artificial disc replacement and stem cell therapy.

Spinal fusion is the prominent method to treat spinal disorders. During this procedure, an extra bone or bone graft is used to remove the gap between two discs or vertebrates. This treatment carries some risks and potential complications, including the possibility of infection, injury, bleeding, pain, and blood clots. It is a very serious surgical procedure. You need to take proper rest and follow the post-treatment guidelines for faster recovery after spinal fusion.