Spinal Fusion

If you have diseased or damaged vertebrae, spinal fusion can relieve back or neck pain and make it easier to perform routine tasks. At Anchor Spine & Joint, the expert orthopedic surgeons use spinal fusion to treat various issues, including fractures, infections, and degenerative disc disease. To make an appointment, you can call the office in Tampa, Riverview, Odessa, Pinellas Park, or Lutz, Florida. You can request an appointment online.

What is spinal fusion?

Spinal fusion is a minimally invasive spine surgery. The process involves using special tools and bone cement to fuse two or more of your vertebrae. By doing that, it's possible to relieve pain, encourage mobility, and improve your quality of life. 

What conditions can benefit from spinal fusion?

Anchor Spine & Joint uses spinal fusion to treat various conditions that affect the back and spine, including:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spinal stenosis
• Fractured vertebrae
• Infections
• Tumors

You might also benefit from spinal fusion if you have a spine abnormality, like scoliosis. 

What does spinal fusion involve?

Anchor Spine & Joint performs spinal fusion at a hospital or a surgical facility. Before the procedure begins, your provider administers general anesthesia through a needle into a vein, causing you to fall asleep.

Once you're comfortable, special tools are used to make a small incision in your back or side. Then, your muscles are dilapidated, pushed away, and the discs between your diseased or damaged vertebrae are removed.

After removing your disc (or discs), your Anchor Spine & Joint provider fills the space with bone cement. Depending on the severity of the condition treated, they might also insert screws or rods to hold your bones together. When they finish making the necessary repairs, they remove the tools and close the incision. Then, you're moved to a recovery room for observation.

What happens after spinal fusion?

After minimally invasive spinal fusion, you stay in the hospital for 3-5 days. During that time, it's normal to experience swelling, increased sensitivity, and pain. Take your medication as prescribed, avoid strenuous activity, and practice good posture.

About a week after your procedure, you begin physical therapy. Physical therapy combines stretches, strengthening exercises, and manual therapies like massage to speed up your body's healing process.

To ensure a positive treatment outcome, attend each follow-up appointment and follow your doctor's instructions carefully.

Is spinal fusion safe?

Spinal fusion is safe and usually well-tolerated, but like all types of surgery, there are inherent risks. Possible complications include infection, bruising, and blood clots. 

Your risk of complications varies depending on your age, medical history, and the condition treated. Adhering closely to your doctor's treatment plan can significantly lower your risk.

To explore the benefits of spinal fusion, make an appointment at Anchor Spine & Joint by calling one of the offices or clicking the online booking feature to schedule today.