Spinal Fusion

If you are experiencing back pain, at the office of J. Turner Vosseller, MD, we can help!

The first step is to determine the cause of your pain. Back pain can be caused by a number of factors. Before we can recommend a treatment or surgical procedure, we need to conduct tests to identify the exact reason for your discomfort. Usually these types of tests involve a computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Based on the results, we can tell if you have a back condition that would benefit from spinal fusion surgery. This is a generally safe and effective way to correct a specific problem that can occur due to illness, aging, or certain back conditions. The goal of the surgery is to stabilize the affected vertebrae (small bones) of your spine to reduce pain, help heal movement-related issues, or correct a problem.  

The way it works is by joining together the impacted vertebrae to strengthen the back. You will be given general anesthesia so you won’t be awake during the procedure, and will typically stay overnight in the hospital for two or three days to be monitored. After that, similar to recovery from a broken bone, full recovery from spinal fusion can take a few months for the bones to heal completely. But in the long term, the results can make a big difference in your overall well being. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic surgeons and the Mayo Clinic, it can help relieve symptoms of many back problems, including:

• Degenerative disk disease
• Spondylolisthesis (wearing down or fracture of the spine)
• Spinal Stenosis (compression of the spine)
• Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
• Fractured vertebra
• Infection
• Herniated disk
• Tumor
• Spine deformities
• Spinal weakness

If you suffer from any of these conditions, ask your doctor if spinal fusion may be right for you.

At the office of J. Turner Vosseller, MD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care. For more information on our office and the many services that we provide, give us a call today.

By J. Turner Vosseller

September 29, 2020