“Spinal fusion” is a type of surgery in which two or more vertebrae in the spine are permanently joined together to prevent movement between them and the stretching of surrounding muscles and ligaments. This surgery is often an option when the source of pain in the spine is movement between the vertebrae, and grafts are generally used to permanently fuse the bones together.
Spinal fusion can relieve symptoms of a variety of back conditions, including:
- Infections
- Fractures
- Degenerative disc disease
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
The process of spinal fusion is vaguely similar to the process of welding in that the separate vertebrae ultimately heal into a single bone. Vertebrae can be fused together in a number of ways, including placing bone graft material in-between the vertebrae as well as alternate cages which are placed in-between the vertebrae and then filled with bone graft material.These grafts may come from a bone bank or even another part of your own body, such as the pelvic bone, and synthetic bone substitutes are also used in some cases.
Although the vertebrae are usually fused together with screws, rods, or plates to ensure stability until the bone graft heals, spinal fusions can also be minimally invasive. Some types of lumbar spinal fusion, for example, use expanding dilators, a fiber optic viewing camera, and smaller incisions than standard fusion.
However, spinal surgery itself is also not without inherent risks, including:
- Degeneration of the vertebrae above and below the fusion;
- Spinal nerve damage, which can cause pain, weakness, and loss of sensation;
- Infections in vertebral bones or the wound itself.
If you or a loved one has suffered a back injury in an accident, contact America’s Consumer Lawyer for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, America’s Consumer Lawyer is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
