What is Spinal Fusion?
A spinal fusion is when two or more vertebrae are connected so that the space in between them can no longer move. It’s a surgical procedure that’s done when the patient is under general anesthesia. To gain access to the area of the spine and the two or more vertebrae that need to be fused, an incision is made in the neck or back or in the abdomen or throat to get at the area to be fused from the front.
A graft of bone is actually the material that fuses the vertebrae. This piece of graft is either taken from the pelvis of the patient or taken from a bone bank. While metal screws or plates might be used in the grafting process, their function is actually to hold the graft in place until it heals. In some instances, instead of using a bone graft, a synthetic substance is used to promote bone growth so that the vertebrae fuse.
Usually, the patient has to stay in the hospital for at least a couple of days to let the spine heal. After the patient goes home, it will be normal for the body to take several months to heal and fuse completely. But if there’s any redness, tenderness, swelling, drainage, shaking chills, or a fever of higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, the patient should inform their doctor to look for signs of infection.
Why Some People Need Spinal Fusions
There are several types of reasons why someone might need a spinal fusion. For instance, if someone has a deformity of the spine, a spinal fusion can help correct the deformity. Scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine, is one type of deformity that can be benefited by a spinal fusion. This type of deformity can cause pain and strange sensations throughout the body, including the shoulders, arms, back, legs, and even feet. People with scoliosis can have either one or two curves, and this can affect how many spinal fusions are needed to correct the problem.
Some people might also need a spinal fusion if they have weakness or instability of the spine, which is often the result of severe arthritis in the spine. When this happens, the spine has an abnormal and excessive amount of motion between the vertebrae, causing them to rub together and irritate the nerve root. A spinal fusion can cause the vertebrae to be more stable so that the nerve is no longer irritated.
When a person has a herniated disk, sometimes the disk needs to be removed if it’s too damaged. In cases like these, a spinal fusion might be used to stabilize the spine after the disk is removed. The disk is the piece between the vertebrae that provides cushion. If that disk isn’t there, the vertebrae often have to be fused so that they’re not rubbing together and irritating the nerve root.
Rehabilitation After a Spinal Fusion
During the process of recovering from a spinal fusion, the patient will usually stay for about four days, but some people might have to stay for up to a week. The length of time that a person stays can be dependent on the person’s health going into the surgery. The patient will be given antibiotics through an IV at this time as well as some pain medicines and fluids. Additionally, the patient will be on bed rest to allow the back to heal. Because of this, they’ll need to have a catheter for urine.
The doctor will continually monitor the spinal fusion at specific points over the course of about two years. Additionally, it will take about six months to about a year for the back to completely heal. During this time, the patient needs to continue to do physical therapy, but patients usually need to avoid bending, twisting, and heavy lifting. In fact, anything heavier than a gallon of milk is usually too much.
The first six weeks of healing are aimed at getting the patient back to feeling good. After that, the goals of physical therapy will be to strengthen the back and increase physical fitness. For instance, the physical therapist might introduce mat exercises that are aimed at adding stability by strengthening the abdominal muscles. Exercises with bands and exercise balls might also be introduced, and the patient might eventually be encouraged to do low-impact aerobic activities, such as swimming and brisk walking.
