Type of Surgery
Information

Last updated: 11/24/2009
Spinal fusion is performed to:
- Straighten a spine deformed by scoliosis, neuromuscular disease, cerebral palsy, or other disorder.
- Prevent further deformation.
- Support a spine weakened by infection or tumor.
- Reduce...
or prevent pain from pinched or injured nerves. - Compensate for injured vertebrae or disks.
The goal of spinal fusion is to unite two or more vertebrae to prevent them from moving independently of each other. This may be done to improve posture, increase ability to ventilate the lungs, prevent pain, or treat spinal instability and reduce the risk of nerve damage.
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In this spinal fusion, the surgeon makes an incision in the lower abdomen to access the lumbosacral spine (A). The disks between the vertebrae are removed (B), and bone grafts are inserted into the spaces (C). Then another incision is made in the patient's back (D), and the vertebrae are exposed and fixed to the pedicle plates and screws (E) (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
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Other Information
Spinal fusion, also known as spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis, is a surgical technique used to combine two or more vertebrae. Supplementary bone tissue (either autograft or allograft) is used in conjunction with the body's natural osteoblastic processes. This procedure is used primarily to eliminate the pain caused by abnormal motion of the vertebrae by immobilizing the vertebrae themselves.
Other Information
Even patients who had a single metastasis surgically removed should have radiation therapy as there are always individual tumor cells remaining.
-Cedar-Sinals
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