Lumbar Fusion: Understanding the Procedure & Benefits

Lumbar fusion is the correction of an unstable part of the spine through joining two or more vertebrae. The procedure is done to minimize back pain in a patient.

Fusion

• Lumbar fusion involves using a bone graft, the transplanting of bone, to force two vertebral bones to fuse into one extended bone.

Bone Graft

• The bone required for the bone graft can be taken from the hip, can be a cadaver bone or can even be manufactured.

Types

• The different types of lumbar fusions are posterolateral gutter fusion and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (done through the back), anterior lumbar interbody fusion (done from the front) and anterior/posterior spinal fusion (done from the both the front and the back).

Effects

• When the fusion is completed, lumbar spine stability increases, but flexibility decreases.

Considerations

• There are risks associated with the surgery. Occasionally, the patient's pain will persist despite a successful fusion.