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.

Is fusion better than disc replacement?

Lumbar disc replacement, a similar procedure that replaces the discs in the lower back, also has a faster recovery time than fusion. A study published in Global Spine Journal found that disc replacement patients were able to return to work significantly faster than fusion patients.

What is the success rate of disc replacement surgery?

Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery: Success Rate

Another study shows that Artificial disc replacement surgery had an 87.5 percent success rate. According to the FDA, however, this surgery has a success rate of more than 90%.

What percentage of spinal fusions are successful?

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

Can you have disc replacement without fusion?

Artificial disc replacement is a surgical alternative to fusion. It involves removing the damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial implant.

Artificial Disc Replacement vs. Spinal Fusion: Comparison | Dr. Todd Lanman

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.

Who is not a candidate for disc replacement?

Artificial disc replacement is not recommended for patients with facet joint syndrome or a bony compression on spinal nerves. Patients with spinal deformities such as scoliosis or bone weakness from osteoporosis would not benefit from this procedure.

What are the disadvantages of spinal fusion?

There's a small risk of bleeding, infection, blood clots, or nerve damage. This is true for any surgery. Spinal fusion risks include a chance that you may feel pain at the spot where the bones are fused. And sometimes the fusion doesn't take because there's not enough bone formation.

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.

What is the most successful back surgery?

Spinal fusion surgery is one of the most common spinal surgeries, and it comes with the highest success rate. However, every surgical procedure comes with potential complications. Back surgery statistics suggest a low complication rate, at just 7.6%, but complications are severe.

When is disc replacement not an option?

Patients who have other spinal abnormalities such as spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and scoliosis are usually not candidates for this surgery. Patients with osteoporosis may not have strong enough bone to support a disc replacement.

Are disc replacements worth it?

In most cases, doctors recommend artificial disc replacement for damaged or unhealthy intervertebral discs. The recovery period for artificial disc replacement is often shorter than spinal fusion surgery. Total disc replacement can also be more effective at relieving chronic back and neck pain.

Can you walk after artificial disc replacement?

Recovery from lumbar disc replacement surgery generally takes 6-8 weeks, but patients continue to heal for up to a year after surgery. When can I return to work and/or activities? Walking is highly encouraged, immediately after surgery and throughout your postoperative period.

Do spinal fusions last a lifetime?

Spinal fusion surgery is, usually, a highly effective procedure. Once the fusion sets, the effects are permanent, so the results can last for life.

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.

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.

Who is not a good 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.

Are spinal fusions worth it?

Spinal fusion often works no better than nonsurgical treatments for back pain with a cause that's not clear. Even when spinal fusion relieves symptoms, it doesn't prevent future back pain. Arthritis causes much of back pain. Surgery doesn't cure arthritis.

When is it time for spinal fusion surgery?

Patients who've undergone multiple microdiscectomies or decompression surgeries. If a patient has had repeated procedures of this nature and requires another, there may not be enough bone stability left in the spine to carry it out. A fusion would be more appropriate in this case.

Is your back stronger after spinal fusion?

CONCLUSIONS After PLIF, strength in back muscles decreased until 3 months postoperatively but significantly increased after that period. The patients who regularly underwent postoperative LSE had significantly improved back strength, less pain, and less functional disability at 12 months postoperatively.

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.

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.

Can your body reject an artificial disc?

There have also been a few cases of people becoming hypersensitive to the artificial disc materials one or more months after surgery. These cases are rare. However, if an allergic reaction is severe enough, the implant may need to be removed.

How long is hospital stay after disc replacement?

Most patients are out of bed and walking on the evening of surgery. Hospital stay is one to two days. There are some activity restrictions for the first month and then patients can return to normal activities.

How long do disc replacements last?

In more than 90% of patients, an artificial disc replacement will last at least 10 years and likely for the rest of your life. Simulated wear studies indicate artificial discs could last a minimum of 40 years and perhaps up to 100 years.