Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure to permanently join two or more vertebrae together, essentially creating a solid bone. Here's how it's typically done:
Spinal Fusion Procedure Steps
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Muscle Access: Your surgeon will carefully move the back muscles aside using specialized tools to expose the spine. This minimizes damage to the surrounding tissues. |
| 2 | Disc Removal: The intervertebral disc, a cushion between the vertebrae, is removed. This creates space for the fusion material. |
| 3 | Graft Placement: Bone graft or a material such as titanium is placed into the space where the disc used to be. This material acts as a scaffolding to help the bones fuse together. |
| 4 | Vertebrae Fusion: The bone graft or other material promotes the growth of new bone, which will eventually fuse the vertebrae. This process essentially "welds" the vertebrae into one solid unit. |
Types of Materials Used for Fusion
- Bone Graft: This can come from your own body (autograft) or from a donor (allograft).
- Titanium: A strong, biocompatible metal often used in spinal fusion implants.
Why is Spinal Fusion Done?
- To stabilize the spine after an injury or fracture.
- To correct spinal deformities, such as scoliosis.
- To relieve pain caused by spinal instability or nerve compression.
Key takeaway
The core of spinal fusion is the removal of the disc and replacement with bone or a similar material, effectively joining the vertebrae. The references provide the basic steps of this process.
