What is the discectomy with the fusion?

fusion disccectomas is a spine surgery used to treat cracked discs, especially if they interfere with nerves and create referred pain in the arms or legs. It consists of two steps: the affected discs are removed and the bone grafts are placed in empty spaces that have been occupied once to cause bone fusion, which does not always occur. When the bone area is fused, this spine area will not move freely. For this reason, the operation is usually not performed at more than three levels of vertebrae. Surgery can also be performed on the lumbar (rear) or neck (neck) spine.

There are other names for this procedure. When performing on the neck it can be either called front uterine discion with fusion (ACDF), which means that access to the spine is through the neck, or it can be the rear, where access through the back of the neck. ACDF is more common because it tends to include less postoperative pain. The lumbar discectomy and fusion can also be rear or front entrance. EqualIt is worth noting that the removal of a single disk, especially in the lumbar region, does not have to include fusion.

The aim of the discectomy with the merger is to remove the discs, free affected nerves and set bone growth between two or more vertebrae from which the discs have been removed. This operation takes about one to two hours to the spine level, no more, and it may require further surgical procedures, while the patient is under general anesthesia. For example, surgeons can use corpse bones or can use the patient's own bones. The second procedure is more extensive and requires bone removal, usually from the hip. The reason why it would be worth undergoing this removal of bones is that the patient's own bones have a slightly greater chance of joining, but the removal of bones creates another area of ​​pain that may take months to fully heal.

Surgeons also usually use instrumentation to create stability in the spine,when they remove discs. From the X -ray, it looks basically like boards and screws along the spine where the procedure was made. The use of instrumentation is relatively new and different types can be available.

Once the operation is completed and, depending on its complexity, the time spent in the hospital may vary. Four to five -day stay is not unusual and some patients can go home after two to three days. Recovery after hospitalization takes a long time and most people cannot participate in most of the daily activities or perform basic housework for approximately six weeks.

Depending on where disciones with merger are performed, patients may also wear a strut to stabilize the area after surgery. For example, patients with cervical disccectomy usually have to wear a solid collar of the cervical orthosis about six weeks after surgery. Then, for several weeks, physical therapy must help increase the range of movement.

disadvantages of any form of discection with merger include that it hasconsequence of loss of movement. It can also create instability in the surrounding discs, which could eventually also be gambling and need to be removed. However, the operation is common and neurosurgeons or orthopedic surgeons are regularly performed. An alternative that many insurance companies are currently not approved is a complete disk replacement. If the insurance company later approves this surgery, it could eventually reduce disccectomy and fusion operations.