What is the success rate of a spinal fusion?

Depending on the condition the surgery is treating, spinal fusion has a 70 to 90% success rate.

What is the failure rate of spinal fusion surgery?

With each spine surgery you have, the chance of success drops: 50% success rate after the first repeat surgery. 30% after the second. 15% after the third.

Is spinal fusion a high risk surgery?

Spinal fusion is generally safe. But as with any surgery, spinal fusion carries some risks. Possible complications include: Infection.

Can you live a normal life after spinal fusion?

Even people requiring bigger surgeries like spinal fusion are 90% likely to return to work and stay at work long term. While most people recover from back pain through exercise and healthy lifestyles, those who require surgery can expect to return to work and "get their life back" too.

Can you fully recover from spinal fusion?

It takes most patients about 3 months to feel fully recovered from surgery. For some people, particularly those with other health issues or patients who had multiple levels of fusion, it may take closer to a year to fully recover from spinal fusion.

Spinal Fusion Surgery Success Story

What are the cons of spinal fusion?

Can you ever bend again after spinal fusion?

Once the surgeon confirms on x-ray imaging that the fusion has completely solidified into one bone, a full return to an active lifestyle—including bending, lifting, and twisting—is permitted. This approval typically occurs about 6 months after the surgery, but sometimes it may take closer to 12 months.

Does spinal fusion shorten life expectancy?

The mean survival time was higher in patients who underwent fusion surgery (95.86 months [89.8–101.92]) compared to laminectomy (79.17 months [71.82–86.52]) (p = 0.03).

Is spinal fusion a permanent disability?

Those who get spinal fusion surgery do see permanent restrictions due to the fact that the surgery fuses the targeted vertebrae of the spine.

How painful is spinal fusion recovery?

As the back continues to heal, patients usually start to feel better and find they can take on more activities. The worst pain is generally over by 4 weeks after surgery. Pain is likely to continue to decrease gradually, but some patients continue to have pain 3 to 6 months after surgery.

Why you shouldn't get a spinal fusion?

Spinal Instability and your pain issues

We don't like to recommend spinal fusion because it does not, in many cases, correct the underlying problems of lumbar spinal instability as many people would think it would. In fact, spinal fusion surgery may increase spinal instability and degeneration.

When Is spinal fusion not recommended?

The biggest risk for spine fusion procedure is continued pain, meaning that the surgery did not substantially reduce or eliminate the patient's pain. The number one reason this occurs is that the fused disc was improperly identified as the cause of the patient's pain, so fusing the disc was unnecessary and irrelevant.

Should I avoid spinal fusion?

Whether caused by adjacent segment disease, spinal muscle injuries, hardware malfunction, or graft site pain, pain after spinal fusion can be debilitating. With these risks in mind, it's generally recommended to avoid spinal fusion whenever possible and opt for safer options.

Can spinal fusion cause problems later in life?

Spinal fusion can cause problems later in life, namely hardware failure, adjacent segment disease (ASD), or spinal muscle injuries. All of these problems can lead to new or reoccurring back pain and neurological symptoms.

What to expect 6 months after spinal fusion?

6-12 Months Post-Surgery

At this stage, you will visit your orthopedic specialist to confirm the surgery was successful and that your vertebrae have fused as expected. Once you've got the go-ahead from your orthopedic specialist, you can start returning to normal life, including bending, twisting, and lifting!

How much mobility do you lose with spinal fusion?

Depending on the area of the fusion, mobility is decreased by roughly 5-10%. That being said, the action of bending over to pick something up is primarily a function of the hip flexors, rather than the spine. Most patients who undergo a spinal fusion do not find the loss of mobility to be debilitating.

What can you not do after spinal fusion?

Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. Do not drive for 2 to 4 weeks after your surgery or until your doctor says it is okay. Avoid riding in a car for more than 30 minutes at a time for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery.

Who is not a candidate for spinal fusion?

You may not be a good candidate if: You have been having back or neck pain or symptoms for less than six months. Your spine condition affects discs or vertebrae at multiple levels of your spine. Treating multilevel disease with spinal fusion can result in losing too much spine flexibility.

How long is hospital stay for spinal fusion?

Hospital recovery after a fusion surgery focuses on managing pain and learning how to move safely while the lumbar spinal fusion solidifies. solidifies. A hospital stay of between 2 and 4 days is typical.

Can you become paralyzed from spinal fusion surgery?

Although paralysis is one of the least likely complications to occur, as infections, blood clots and anesthesia complications are more common, spinal surgery can lead to paralysis.

Will spinal fusion set off metal detectors?

This increase in security has led many patients to wonder if the instrumentation used in their spinal surgery could set off airport metal detectors and require them to undergo additional screening. The most basic answer for individuals undergoing spine surgery is: no, this scenario is unlikely.

How long is bed rest after spinal fusion?

You should tell your employer you will be out of work for approximately 8 to 12 weeks but may be able to return earlier than that. Walking is the best activity you can do for the first 6 weeks after surgery. You should start out slowly and work up to walking 30 minutes at least twice a day.

What happens if I lift something heavy after spinal fusion?

Activity precautions

for at least 4-6 weeks. Lifting more than this can put undue pressure on the spine and interfere with recovery. Avoid bending, lifting, or twisting for at least as long as the surgeon directs.

How long does it take to walk after spinal fusion?

5 to 9 weeks

You'll begin with walking and other small activities. You'll build light daily tasks, such as driving and simple daily chores. You'll still need to avoid bending, lifting heavy objects, and twisting motions. Your physical therapist will guide you through your recovery.

Which is better spinal fusion or disc replacement?

Artificial disc replacement offers some advantages over spinal fusion. The biggest advantage is that disc replacement preserves motion and mobility in the spine while fusion does not. This is especially important for people who want to live active and not just pain-free lives.