Spinal Fusion

Spinal Tumors Roanoke VA

What is a Spinal Fusion?

A spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to stabilize the spine by fusing (or uniting) vertebrae to cease motion. The surgery involves using bone grafts or additional bone around the spine. After several months, the bone grafts will heal and join the vertebrae together making the fusion successfully complete.

A few of the conditions in which a spinal fusion is recommended to a patient are:

  • Vertebral fracture
  • Correcting deformity
  • Cervical disc herniation
  • Instability

Spinal Fusion Procedure

A spinal fusion is designed to eliminate motion in the fused segment of the spine. The cessation of motion helps to decrease or alleviate a patient’s back pain. The spinal fusion surgical procedure adds small pieces of bone to the vertebrae around the degenerative disc. After the procedure, your spine will not yet be fused. It will take approximately 3-6 months for the bone grafts to grow together and actually fuse the section of spine.

Who Should Have a Spinal Fusion?

Diagnosing the cause of back pain is essential to determine if a patient is a candidate for a spinal fusion. Dr. Harron and his team will perform tests and offer other treatments prior to offering a surgical spinal fusion. The spinal fusion may be recommended for patients suffering from degenerative disc disease who have tried alternative treatments that did not alleviate pain. The spinal fusion procedure is not a quick fix and the patient must be willing to rest then rehabilitate to achieve the best results.