Spinal Fusion is a surgical procedure designed to stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment, which in turn should decrease pain generated from the joint. There are many approaches to lumbar spinal fusion surgery, and all involve adding bone graft to an area of the spine to set up a biological response that causes the bone graft to grow between the two vertespine fusion at Jason A. Smith MD bral elements and create a fusion, thereby stopping the motion at that segment.
Spinal Fusion is used to treat:
Injuries to the spinal vertebrae
Protrusion and degeneration of the cushioning disc between vertebrae (slipped disc or herniated disc)
Abnormal Curvatures of the spine
Weak or unstable spine caused by infections or tumors
There are several types of spine surgery options:
Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) - Surgery performed through the patients side. By entering this way major muscles are avoided. This minimally invasive procedure is generally used to treat leg or back pain caused by degenerative disease.
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) - Surgery is done from the front and includes removing the disc between the two vertebrae and inserting bone into the space.
Posterior lumbar interbody spinal fusion (PLIF) - Surgery done through the back and includes removing the disc between two vertebrae and inserting bone into the space
Laminectomy
This procedure is performed through an incision on the lower back. The surgeon removes a section of bone, called the lamina, form one or more vertebrae. This relieves pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots caused by stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal).
Anterior Cervical Discectomy
This surgery removes a herniated or diseased disc and relieves neck and radiating arm pain caused by parts of the disc pressing on nerve roots.
Home
Contact Us
Service Departments