Back/Spinal Fusion

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure to connect two or more bones (called vertebrae) in the spine. Connecting the bones prevents movement between them and can lessen and prevent pain.

Spinal fusion can

stabilize and align your spine

prevent abnormal movements between the bones of your spine

stop painful stretching or compression of the surrounding nerves, ligaments, and muscles

restore normal space between the bones of your spine

Dr. Erica Bisson scrubbed up and performing spine surgery.

Your specialist may recommend spinal fusion if:

nonsurgical treatments (physical therapy, heat, medication, steroid injections, or cortisone injections) have not been effective

your back or neck pain is ongoing and keeps you from being able to work or enjoy daily activities

they determine, based on the cause of your symptoms, that spinal fusion is appropriate for your condition and overall health.

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Best candidates for spinal fusion

You might consider spinal fusion if you have severe back or neck pain that is diminishing the quality of your life.

You and your doctor may decide spinal fusion is the best option if:

Your pain is chronic
Your spine is affected in one or two places
Less invasive treatment methods have been unsuccessful

You may also need to undergo physical therapy and spinal injections before surgery to comply with your health insurance requirements and to reduce risks of unnecessary surgery.

If you decide to move forward with surgery, ask your doctor if you are a good candidate for minimally invasive surgery, you may experience less pain and recover faster.

Risks of spinal fusion

Although spinal fusion can be effective in addressing many back and issues, there is no guarantee that surgery will heal your symptoms. Success depends on several factors, so it is best to speak with a spine specialist about your specific situation.

All surgery comes with risks, and your overall health can significantly affect your surgery and healing. You should discuss potential complications and risks with your doctor.

Most risks for spinal fusion surgery are rare but they can include:

infection
bleeding
blood clots
general anesthesia risks
nerve damage
a decrease in your spine's flexibility
vertebrae not permanently fusing together

There is also a chance that

Spinal fusion may not relieve your symptoms
Your symptoms may return or worsen in the future
Areas above or below the fusion may degenerate at a faster rate

What to expect

Depending on the approach used, your surgery time may vary, however, spinal fusion usually takes a few hours.

Before your procedure begins, you will be given anesthesia to keep you asleep during the surgery.

Your surgeon can walk you through the details specific to your surgery. In general, you can expect that your surgeon will:

Make an incision to access your spine
If needed, remove the disc(s) between the bones being fused
Add a bone graft (using bone or bone-like material) to the space between your vertebrae bones that will fuse the bones together over several months
If recommended, add metal screws, plates, rods, and/or a cage to hold the area still while your bone graft heals
Close the incision

How to prepare for surgery

If you are scheduled for spinal fusion surgery, our care team will guide you in preparing for the procedure. An anesthesiologist will ask you questions to evaluate the right amount of anesthesia you'll need during surgery. Your care team may also order blood work or other preoperative tests depending on any underlying health conditions you may have. You may also need approval from your other providers before moving forward with spinal fusion.

To prepare for surgery you must:

Maintain a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet
Minimize the use of narcotics (painkillers)
Work with your provider on changes to blood thinners or blood pressure medication
Avoid eating after midnight the day before surgery

Recovery

Most patients remain in the hospital for a few days after spinal fusion surgery. Our team will advise you on the types of movement and activities to avoid after your surgery. You may need to wear a brace or support. You will likely require assistance with everyday tasks. It is critical to your recovery that you follow our team's guidance on activity limitations, any deviations may disrupt your recovery.

After surgery, you must:

Avoid showering until the next day
Avoid baths for a month (soaking your incision in water may increase your risk of infection)
Avoid lifting heavy objects for a month
Use ice, heat, or anti-inflammatory medicine for mild pain relief

Your surgeon may recommend that you undergo physical therapy to build up your strength after the procedure. Most patients take several month to fully recover and notice the benefits of their surgery.

Signs of healing

During your recovery, you may experience the return of sensation as previously numb areas begin to normalize, including muscle twitching or restless legs. These symptoms are a normal part of your recovery and not a cause for concern. If you experience intense pain at the incision site or develop fever and chills, contact our team immediately.

Follow-up care

You will have a follow-up appointment with your spine provider six weeks after surgery. We may schedule you for another follow-up visit up to six months after your surgery, depending on where you are in your recovery process. Physical therapy can improve the results of your surgery.

Success Rate

Many of our patients report less pain and better mobility after spinal fusion surgery. Over time, you will be able to resume some activities you once had to avoid because of your spinal condition.

Why choose University of Utah Neurosurgery Spine Group?

We are the destination for complex spine patients in the Mountain West. Our spine surgeons perform a high volume of procedures each year, and are both experienced and successful. We also publish our research findings for other physicians and surgeons to learn.

With the University of Utah Health Neurosurgery Spine Group, you will receive care from an experienced team of experts who are national leaders in spine surgery and who train residents, fellows, and other physicians.