Undergoing A Spine Fusion Surgery - Recovery and Risks

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• Spine fusion is often considered the last resort
  to save a spine. After confirming that no other
  conventional treatments could benefit your spine,
  your spine surgeon will recommend a fusion
  procedure to relieve your excruciating back pain
  and reinstall your mobility.
• Other primary reasons for which a spine surgeon
  would recommend a fusion surgery may include
• Fractures due to traumatic accidents or
  age-related degeneration
• limited range of back movements which cause pain
  upon extension
• Vertebral disc degeneration caused by
  degenerative disc diseases
• For treating conditions like Spinal stenosis and
  Spondylolisthesis
• Distorted back posture and muscle spasms
• Weakness or imbalance in legs and tightened
  hamstrings
• Sudden loss of balance while walking

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Spine Fusion Procedure
Open Spinal Fusion

• During a spine fusion surgery, your orthopaedic
  surgeon will try to release the compressive force
  exerted on the spinal nerves and reform the
  spinal shape. And this can now be achieved in the
  two distinct ways

• Like any traditional open surgery, open spine
  fusion is performed through a single long
  incision. It is typically performed under general
  anaesthesia.
• After making the incision, the surgeon will
  carefully move the muscles and nerves trying to
  cause minimal damage, and remove the damaged disc
  between two vertebrae, either partially or
  entirely.
• Now, the two adjacent vertebrae at the top and
  bottom will be fused or connected using bone
  grafts or prosthetic support implants such as
  screws, rods and plates. A substance called bone
  morphogenetic protein may also be used to
  catalyse the bone growth.
• The incision is closed with surgical sutures,
  staples and bandages.

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MIS Lumbar Fusion

• Unlike the open surgery, a minimally invasive
  surgery (MIS) of Lumbar fusion is performed
  through tiny incisions.
• The patient is positioned facing down, and two
  retractors are inserted from opposite sides of
  the spine, which is why it is also known as
  transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).
• Here, the surgeon approaches the damaged
  vertebrae from the sides of the spine through
  small incisions without causing any damage to the
  central nerves and muscles.
• The MIS instruments and an endoscope are inserted
  through the retractors and the damaged vertebra
  is removed either partially or completely. The
  bone grafts and prosthetic fixations are
  carefully inserted through the same retractors
  and fixed around the two adjacent vertebrae.
• As the incisions are much smaller, they are
  easily closed with even one or two sutures and
  heal faster than the open surgical incision.

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Recovering From Spinal Fusion

• Depending on the type of surgery you have, youll
  be kept in the hospital for a few more days under
  supervision. The period of your stay will majorly
  depend on your healing capabilities and your
  overall health.
• The key is to keep your back immobile while the
  wounds are fresh, which is why youll be given
  your pain medications through an IV line called
  the epidural catheter. Your urine will also be
  collected through a catheter tube so you wont
  move for a bathroom break.
• A physical therapist will teach you how you must
  move out of your bed after some time. But your
  activities will be very limited without exerting
  any pressure on your back.
• After the stitches are removed and a few months
  pass, youll be prescribed a physical therapy
  program to improve your back movements without
  hurting it.
• Attending your follow-up appointments is equally
  crucial to ensure that the spine is healing
  progressively and to decide when you can return
  to your routine job.
• However, for the first six months, twisting,
  bending, or heavy lifting is completely
  prohibited.
• Healing from spine surgery is a long process.
  your back will take anywhere between six months
  to a year for regaining its original strength and
  mobility.

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Risks Complications Involved In Spine Fusion

• This surgery is well evolved to be safe with only
  the general minimal surgical complications which
  are easily treatable, such as
• Bleeding
• Formation of blood clots
• External infection
• Moderate back pain
• Anaesthesia related reactions and risks
• If your doctor has suggested a spine surgery for
  your back problems and you wish to know which
  procedure would best improve your condition, you
  can visit our orthopaedic treatment in Wakad at
  the Alpha Hospital and have a thorough
  consultation. You can easily book your
  appointment for consulting our spine surgeon in
  Wakad by visiting the Alpha Hospital website.