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  • Treating Chronic Back PainMinimally Invasive Spine Surgery

    Minimally invasive spine surgery is the latest advanced technology available to perform spinal surgeries through small, less than one inch long, incisions. It involves the use of special surgical instruments, devices and advanced imaging techniques to visualize and perform the surgery through such small incisions. Read More

  • Relieve Nerve & Spinal Cord CompressionAnterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion

    Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion is an operative procedure to relieve compression or pressure on nerve roots and/or the spinal cord due to a herniated disc or bone spur in the neck. Read More

  • Focus on life againLumbar Decompression

    Lumbar decompression is a surgical procedure performed to relieve pressure over the compressed nerves in the lower spine (lumbar region). It is usually indicated in patients with herniated lumbar disc, spinal stenosis, spinal injury or spinal tumours, who have not found adequate pain relief with conservative treatment. Read More

Home // Spinal Treatments // Lumbar Fusion

Lumbar Fusion

Spinal fusion, also called arthrodesis, is a surgical technique used to join two or more vertebrae (bones) within the spine. Lumbar fusion technique is the procedure of fusing the vertebrae in lumbar portion of the spine (lower back).

Lumbar fusion surgery may be used to treat spondylolisthesis (slipping of the spine bones), degenerated discs, scoliosis or kyphosis (abnormal curvature of the spine), spinal infections or tumours, traumatic injury of the spine, recurrent disc herniation, and unstable spine.

The surgery can be done as an open or laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery.

Your surgeon may approach your spine from the back, abdomen or neck, depending on the area to be treated.

In spinal fusion, a piece of bone, taken from other parts of the body or donated from a bone bank is transplanted between the adjacent vertebrae. Screws, plates, or cages may be used with the bone graft to help hold the spine.

During the surgery, your surgeon performs a discectomy where a portion of the diseased or damaged disc material is removed. After the removal the roof of the vertebra will be trimmed or removed to relieve the pressure on the nerve and this procedure is called as laminectomy. Following laminectomy, the bone graft (small chips of bone) will be placed alongside of the vertebrae between the vertebrae to be fused. Screws are placed into the vertebrae to be fused. Rods are attached to connect the screws, to stabilise and hold the bones together while the fusion heals.

As with every surgery, lumbar fusion surgery is associated with certain complications and they include:

  • Spine infection
  • Damage to the spinal nerves
  • Loss of sensation
  • Problems with bowel or bladder control
  • Dislocation of the implant
  • Pseudarthrosis, a painful condition occurring as a result of non-healing of the bone effusion, and a false joint grows at the site
  • Blood clot formation in the legs
  • Pain at the bone graft site

Memberships

  • General Medical Council
  • Royal College of Surgeons
  • British Medical Association
  • British Orthopaedic Association
  • British Association of Spinal Surgeons
  • Aospine
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • Euro Spine
  • North American Spine Society
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