Spinal Fusion Surgery.

Spinal fusion surgery is a technique used to combine two or more vertebrae in the spine. Please read on to find out more.

One example of when it is used is where excess movement of one vertebra relative to another causes severe pain and/or neurological symptoms.

Although there are many conditions requiring spinal fusion, excess movement of one vertebra relative to another is the most common cause of surgery that I see in my physiotherapy practice.

Some weeks ago a 35 year-old woman came to me with severe neck pain and neurological symptoms. She had 9/10 central lower neck pain (see spine anatomy), with pins and needles and numbness down her right arm. It had been present for one week.

On assessment, she had the signs and symptoms of a severe disc prolapsed at C5/6 with associated nerve and neurological findings. I referred her through her doctor for a surgical review. Unfortunately, it took three weeks for this lady to be assessed for surgery, and by the time she got an appointment her symptoms had worsened significantly.

spinal fusion surgery

Emergency surgery was then performed which involved both the C 5/6 disc being removed as well as a fusion of both the C5 and C6 vertebra. She was then put into a brace for six weeks. The good news is that her pain, numbness and pins and needles have gone.

This is a classical example of why early intervention, when indicated, is better. If this lady had had an earlier surgical review, the surgery required may not have been so big. However, without surgery no resolution was possible.

From this point forwards physiotherapy and exercises will prevent long term weakness in her right arm, which may potentially result from the long term nerve impingement of the nerve that was present. Follow-up physiotherapy is essential in the management of this condition. Do not think time will resolve your problem.

This is an example of spinal fusion in the treatment of spinal disc herniation. Other conditions commonly requiring spinal fusion involve:

Degenerative disc disease: Where the discs are worn away and thin.

Vertabral fracture: Where a bone in your neck is cracked and unstable.

Scoliosis: Where there is a deviation in your spine and instability results between two or more bones.

Scheuermanns disease: Where a degenerative process is resulting between two or more bones, and they are growing at incorrect angles to each other.

Spondylolisthesis: Where one vertebra is slipping forward relative to another.

Spondylosis: Where degenerative osteoarthritis results in the nerves being compressed extremely.

Other degenerative conditions of the spine: Where severe osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis results in instability of two or more vertebrae.

In summary - spinal fusion is a very effective treatment in many conditions involving joint instability. However, wherever possible it should be avoided through good physiotherapy and manual techniques. Never ignore neurological symptoms including pain, pins and needles, weakness and numbness. Seek a good medical and physiotherapy opinion to advise you on the appropriate treatments required in the management of your neck and arm pain.

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The information on this web site does not replace specific medical advice. It should only be used to complement advice from your doctor. Always seek in-person advice from a doctor or other qualified health provider for your particular condition.