Spinal fusion
Spinal fusion is a surgery that joins (fuses) two or more vertebrae together. Vertebrae are the 33 interlocking bones of the spinal column that are stacked on top of each other.
Methods of doing spinal fusion may include:
- Using bone that is harvested from elsewhere in the body or is obtained from a bone bank. Or sometimes human-made bone is used. This bone is used to make a "bridge" between adjoining vertebrae. This graft of bone stimulates the growth of new bone.
- Securing metal implants to the vertebrae to hold them together until new bone grows between the vertebrae.
The medical term for spinal fusion is arthrodesis.
How is spinal fusion done?
There are different methods of spinal fusion:
- Bone is taken from elsewhere in your body or obtained from a bone bank. Or sometimes human-made bone is used. This bone is used to make a "bridge" between adjacent spinal bones (vertebrae). This bone graft stimulates the growth of new bone.
- Metal implants (such as rods, hooks, wires, plates, or screws) are usually secured to the vertebrae to hold them together until new bone grows between them.
There are different techniques that can be used in spinal fusion. But the basic procedure is the same. Techniques vary, from what type of bone or metal implants are used to whether the surgery is done from the front (anterior), back (posterior), or side (lateral) of the body. The method chosen depends on a number of things, including your age and health, how many vertebrae are involved, the severity of nerve root pressure and associated symptoms, and the surgeon's experience.
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