Spinal fusion permanently connects
two or more
vertebrae in your spine to improve stability, correct a deformity or reduce pain. Your doctor may recommend spinal fusion to treat: Deformities of the spine. Spinal fusion can help correct spinal deformities, such as a sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis).
Can you have your entire spine fused?
Spinal fusion permanently connects
two or more
vertebrae in your spine to improve stability, correct a deformity or reduce pain. Your doctor may recommend spinal fusion to treat: Deformities of the spine. Spinal fusion can help correct spinal deformities, such as a sideways curvature of the spine (scoliosis).
How many vertebrae can you fuse together?
Two vertebrae
need to be fused to stop the motion at one segment. For example, an L4-L5 fusion is a one-level spinal fusion. A two-level fusion joins three vertebrae together and so on.
Which vertebrae can be fused?
Working together, these structures define a motion segment and permit multiple degrees of motion. Two vertebral segments need to be fused together to stop the motion at one segment, so that an
L4-L5 (lumbar segment 4 and lumbar segment 5)
spinal fusion is actually a one-level spinal fusion.
How many levels of the spine can be fused?
Multilevel spinal fusion refers to fusion of
more than one spinal disc level
(e.g. L3-L4 and L4-L5 fusions). When a multilevel spinal fusion is performed, it is almost always on contiguous spinal levels. The most common levels included in a multilevel spinal fusion are L4-5 and L5-S1.
Does spinal fusion shorten your life?
Conclusion: Elderly patients who underwent spine surgery for spinal stenosis had
reduced mortality
compared to the corresponding portion of the general population. Therefore, surgery for spinal stenosis is a justifiable procedure even in elderly patients.
Can screws come loose after spinal fusion?
Pedicle screw loosening is
a common complication after spine surgeries
. Traditionally, it was assessed by radiological approaches, both X-ray and CT (computed tomography) scan, while reports using mechanical method to study screw loosening after spine surgery are rare.
Can one bend ruin a spinal fusion?
Avoid bending at all after a lumbar fusion
if possible, as bending or twisting can interfere with the way the fusion heals and even damage the work that was done.
Can you live a normal life after spinal fusion?
Even people requiring bigger surgeries like spinal fusion are 90% likely to return to work and stay at work
long term
. While most people recover from back pain through exercise and healthy lifestyles, those who require surgery can expect to return to work and “get their life back” too.
What happens when your vertebrae fuse together?
If the vertebrae fuse together,
the spine is robbed of mobility, leaving the vertebrae brittle and vulnerable to fractures
. You may also see AS referred to as a seronegative spondyloarthropathy.
How long do spinal fusions last?
“Your pain is typically decreased by 50 percent,” Dr. Atlas says, “but there are very few people who really have no pain after spinal fusion.” The relief may last only
a few years
before the condition worsens again.
Can you be born with fused vertebrae?
Klippel-Feil syndrome
is a bone disorder characterized by the abnormal joining (fusion ) of two or more spinal bones in the neck (cervical vertebrae). The vertebral fusion is present from birth.
What is normal pain after spinal fusion?
After surgery, you can expect your
back to feel stiff and sore
. You may have trouble sitting or standing in one position for very long and may need pain medicine in the weeks after your surgery. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to get back to doing simple activities, such as light housework.
Can you have 2 spinal fusions?
A two-level fusion may be considered
for patients with severe, disabling pain
that occurs at two levels of the spine (e.g. L4-L5 and L5-S1), but only after extensive non-surgical and pain management approaches have been tried.
How far can you walk after spinal fusion?
Gradually increase the distance you walk and, if weather permits, you may walk outside. You should be able to gradually increase your distance until you can walk
about one mile within one to two months
after surgery.
What does L5 S1 pain feel like?
Pain, generally felt as a
sharp, shooting, and/or searing feeling in the buttock, thigh, leg, foot, and/or toes
.
Numbness
in the foot and/or toes. Weakness in the leg and/or foot muscles and an inability to lift the foot off the floor (foot drop)
