Overview
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to correct problems with the small bones in the spine (vertebrae). It is essentially a welding process that fuses two or more vertebrae together so that they heal into a single, solid bone. This eliminates motion between the vertebral segments.
Treatment Options
- Traditional open spinal fusion
- Minimally invasive spinal fusion (MIS)
- Anterior, posterior, or lateral approaches
- Use of bone grafts and instrumentation (screws, rods)
- Interbody fusion (ALIF, PLIF, TLIF, LLIF)
Recovery & Prognosis
Hospital stay is typically 2-4 days. Most patients can return to light activities within 4-6 weeks, with full recovery taking 3-6 months. Complete bone fusion takes 6-12 months.