Spinal Fusion

Before your spinal fusion surgery, you'll start in the preparation area. A nurse will review your medical history, current medications and emergency contact information to ensure everything is in place. You'll also meet your anesthesia team, who will explain how they'll keep you comfortable during the procedure. Your surgeon or a team member will confirm your consent for the surgery and mark the area for the operation. An intravenous (IV) line will be placed in your arm or hand to provide quick access for fluids and medications.

Once you're ready, you'll be taken to the operating room. There, monitors will be attached to check your vital signs and keep you safe throughout the surgery. You'll meet other surgical team members, including a nurse or technician assisting the surgeon and a circulating nurse who helps with your care.

Finally, the anesthesia team will give you medicine to help you fall asleep, and your surgery will begin.

Your surgery (and how long it lasts) will vary depending on the type of procedure and the approach. Your surgeon will make a cut and use tools to gently separate your muscles and other tissue to access your spine.

Spinal fusions usually require a bone graft or an artificial material. If the bone is coming from another part of your body, such as your pelvis (although uncommon), your surgeon may make another incision and “harvest” the bone for the graft. Your surgery might be combined with spinal decompression, where a piece of bone is removed from your spine to relieve pressure on your nerves. In this case, the bone can be reused as a bone graft.

Once the bone has been removed, your surgeon will place the graft (or artificial material). They might use special cages packed with bone graft material between your vertebrae. Usually, they may use rods, screws, plates or cages to keep your bones together until the bone grafts have healed.

Finally, the surgeon will close the incision. They may place a drain to remove any fluid in the surgery site, to allow for better healing of the wound.

After your spinal fusion surgery, your recovery time in the hospital depends on whether the procedure was outpatient or inpatient. If you had less complex surgery, you might be able to go home the same day. In the hours and days after surgery, you will feel some discomfort or numbness around your incision, but this will improve. You will receive pain medication, and your healthcare team will show you how to sit, stand, walk and get out of bed safely.

You might have to wear a back brace as you recover. Even if you do not, follow your doctor’s advice about physical activity and how to care for your back. Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting and driving as directed, but try to be moderately active. Take short walks and gradually increase the distance. You should strive for a goal of walking 30 minutes or more a day.

Your physical therapist will give you exercises to do at home and show you how to carry out everyday tasks safely. You will likely need help from family or friends for a few weeks after your surgery.

Regular exercise is an important part of your recovery process, but you should start slowly and follow your surgeon’s or physical therapist’s advice. They might advise starting with gentle exercises, such as abdominal contractions lying on your back, and build up to more strenuous moves.

The length of your surgery will depend on the type of procedure and your diagnosis. Procedures can take anywhere from one to several hours.

It is normal to feel pain and discomfort after surgery, and this is part of the healing process. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication for you to take at home. You should find that it improves after the first few days. Tell your doctor if you have severe or persistent pain.

You can travel after spinal fusion surgery when your surgeon gives you the okay. You will not be able to drive for the first couple of weeks after surgery.

If you have a trip that requires flying, ask your surgeon how long you will need to wait before air travel is considered safe. Your risk of deep vein thrombosis, a type of blood clot associated with sitting for long periods, increases after surgery.

Spinal fusion is meant to be permanent and should last a lifetime. However, in some cases, you might need additional surgery. This can be necessary if your bones do not fuse together properly or if you have a degenerative condition affecting other levels in your spine that were not part of the original surgery.

Yes, spinal fusion is a major surgery that involves careful manipulation of the bones and requires time to recover. Doctors usually suggest trying other treatments, like physical therapy or medication, before considering surgery. It's important to discuss all options with your doctor to make the best choice for your health.

No, spinal fusion is a permanent procedure. It permanently connects two or more vertebrae in your spine to help reduce pain and provide stability. Once fused, the vertebrae cannot move independently, so the procedure cannot be reversed.