Spinal Fusion
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Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopedic Spine Surgery located in Elko, NV
If you suffer from severe neck or back pain, or you have a fractured vertebra, spinal fusion can provide pain relief and stabilize your spine. Justin Dazley, MD, at the team at Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery specialize in performing spinal fusion: an operation that helps patients overcome pain and disability from diseased or damaged discs, herniated discs, and other conditions. To determine if you’re a good candidate for spinal fusion, call Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery in Rock Springs, Wyoming, or use online booking to schedule an evaluation today.
Spinal Fusion Q & A
What is spinal fusion?
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure in which two vertebrae are permanently joined together. The purpose of spinal fusion is to stabilize your spine and relieve pain by removing a damaged disc and eliminating movement between the vertebrae.
What conditions can be treated with spinal fusion?
Dr. Dazley may recommend spinal fusion in your neck or lower back to relieve pain caused by:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Fractured vertebrae
- Spondylolisthesis
- Compressed or pinched nerves
- Fractured vertebrae
- Abnormal spinal curvature
If you have persistent back or neck pain that’s caused by one of these conditions, you should schedule an appointment at Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery.
How is spinal fusion surgery performed?
Different techniques have unique benefits, so Dr. Dazley determines the best type of surgery based on your underlying condition and the area of your spine being fused.
Regardless of the technique used, the procedure follows similar steps. Dr. Dazley removes the damaged disc and replaces it with material that helps the adjoining vertebrae grow new bone and fuse together into one bone.
Several materials effectively promote bone fusion. One approach uses a bone graft, taking a small piece of bone through a small incision from your hip and placing it between the vertebrae.
Bone harvested from your hip contains living cells that work with the vertebrae to grow new bone. A bone graft can also involve material from a bone bank or synthetic bone substitutes. This allows a fusion without taking bone from your hip. Bone grafts, however, aren’t the only choice.
Dr. Dazley might use a device called a fusion cage, a small device with fenestration for bone growth. The center of the cage is filled with substances that promote bone growth. While the cage can be filled with your own bone, Dr. Dazley may use advanced bone graft substitutes containing growth factors that accelerate the regeneration of new bone tissue.
Can spinal fusion be performed using minimally invasive surgery?
In some cases, Dr. Dazley can perform cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) spinal fusions using minimally invasive surgery. This type of surgery uses small incisions and thin surgical tools.
Minimally invasive surgery or microscopic surgery offers several benefits. You’ll also have less internal scarring, faster recovery, and less postoperative pain.
If you have questions about your back pain or the spinal fusion procedure, call Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery, or book an appointment online today.
