01 — Overview
Fusion is stabilization. Screws and rods hold a segment still while bone graft grows across it over a period of months. The hardware is a scaffold; the result depends on the biology. That is why bone quality, nutrition and smoking status are discussed before surgery rather than after.
02 — Who it suits
- Instability, including spondylolisthesis and traumatic injury
- Deformity requiring correction and maintenance of alignment
- A segment destabilized by the decompression it requires
- A previous fusion that has not healed
03 — How it is done
The joint surfaces are prepared, graft material is placed, and screws and rods hold the alignment. An interbody cage is often added, since graft placed between the vertebral bodies is under compression and generally fuses more predictably than graft placed behind the spine alone.
04 — Recovery
Bone healing after a fusion takes months, and that timeline governs activity restrictions whatever symptom relief happens earlier. Smoking is associated with reduced fusion rates, and stopping is discussed as part of planning.
05 — Conditions treated
- Spondylolisthesis & Spinal Instability A condition where a vertebra slips out of place onto the bone below it, causing pain and nerve compression.
- Degenerative Disc Disease A condition where the spinal discs wear down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential nerve compression.
- Scoliosis & Spinal Deformity An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, which can lead to pain, deformity, and respiratory issues if severe.
- Spine Trauma Breaks or cracks in the vertebrae caused by trauma, osteoporosis, or other conditions, leading to pain and potential neurological damage.
- Persistent Pain After Spine Surgery Persistent or recurrent pain following spine surgery, often due to incomplete resolution of the initial condition or new complications.
- Spinal Tumors Tumors affecting the spine, which can cause pain, neurological deficits, and spinal instability, requiring surgical removal or stabilization.
Timelines and techniques described here are general. Your own plan depends on your anatomy, your imaging and your medical history, and is decided with you at consultation.
