5 Important Facts About Spinal Fusion

Spinal damage limits you in so many ways, from chronic pain to reduced range of movement. In many cases, spinal fusion surgery represents a positive path forward after spinal damage or deterioration.

Are you a good candidate for spinal fusion? Experienced neurosurgeon Dr. Beejal Y. Amin and his team offer this procedure and other minimally invasive spine surgeries from convenient locations in Hinsdale and Woodridge, Illinois. If you’re considering spinal fusion surgery, here are five facts about this procedure.

1. Spinal fusion permanently joins spinal bones

Your spinal column has many small vertebral bones, with cushioning discs at each joint. Often, spinal damage or deterioration centers on a problem area. Spinal fusion surgery addresses the problem by fusing two or more of your small spinal bones, eliminating joint pain and dysfunction in that part of your spine.

The procedure involves bone grafts. Material for the bone graft may come from your pelvic bone or may be donated. Your spinal fusion could even use artificial bone substitutes. If needed, surgical screws or pins hold the bone graft in place until you’re healed.

After your procedure, the fusion is permanent. However, patients typically only lose a small amount of range of motion. And, the benefit of getting rid of chronic pain more than makes up, practically speaking, for that small degree of motion loss.

2. Spinal fusion reduces persistent pain

In addition to spinal bones and discs, your spinal space is home to many primary nerves, which means that spine problems often include debilitating back pain, neck pain, or referred pain symptoms.

Spinal fusion surgery can help whether you have an injury or fractures in your spinal bones, weakness due to a tumor, abnormal spinal curvature due to scoliosis or kyphosis, or spinal arthritis. This procedure can also address slipped vertebrae and stabilize your spine after a spinal disc removal.

Spinal fusion reduces the movement of the damaged area of your spine. The goal is to reduce or eliminate your pain symptoms if you’ve already tried other pain management strategies without sufficient relief.

Individual pain relief results may vary after surgery. Spinal fusion sometimes doesn’t eliminate pain but can be effective for lasting pain relief if the underlying cause of your pain isn’t known.

3. You do not feel pain during your surgery

Before your spinal fusion surgery, we administer general anesthesia. You’re deeply unconscious during the surgery and won’t feel any pain.

Spinal fusion surgery can stabilize and restore different areas of your spine. Some of the details of your procedure depend on the location of the spinal bones to be fused. Your surgeon may create an incision on your back or neck over your spine. You may be positioned face-down or on your side during the surgery.

4. Spinal fusion surgery can work with other procedures

Depending on the nature of your spinal damage, deformation, or deterioration, you may benefit from other procedures in addition to spinal fusion. Spinal fusion can work with procedures like a laminectomy or discectomy. If you need another surgery, it’s completed before your spinal fusion procedure.

5. Your spinal fusion procedure may be minimally invasive

Dr. Amin specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). He uses all available techniques to reduce tissue and muscle damage during your spinal fusion. 

For example, in MISS, Dr. Amin uses retractors inserted under your skin to shift muscles out of the way, rather than cutting through them. That means less pain, less bleeding, fewer risks, and a shorter recovery period.

To learn more about how spinal fusion can help stabilize your spine and reduce associated pain, contact Beejal Y. Amin today. Schedule your initial consultation appointment online or over the phone now.