SPINAL FUSION SURGERY

Spinal Fusion Surgery

Spinal fusion surgery is when specialists fuse two or more vertebrae to form a single structure. This surgery prevents movement between the two bones and relieves low back pain. After the specialists complete the procedure, the vertebrae will not move as before. This process prevents stretching nerves, ligaments, and muscles that cause discomfort.

Spinal fusion surgery treats or relieves the symptoms of many spinal problems. This effective method eliminates mobility between the two vertebrae that surgeons treat. This surgery reduces flexibility but is more helpful in treating spinal disorders that make movement painful.

Who are the Ideal Candidates for Spinal Fusion Surgery?

Spinal fusion surgery permanently fuses two or more vertebrae in the spine to increase spinal stability, correct deformities, and reduce pain. The doctor may recommend spinal fusion to treat many problems in the spine. In general, ideal candidates for spinal fusion surgery in Turkey have the following issues:

• Spine fracture: Of course, not all vertebral fractures require this procedure, and many heal without treatment. However, if the broken vertebra is causing your spine to become unstable, you should seek spinal fusion surgery.
• Spinal deformities or misalignments: You can use this procedure to correct deformities such as spinal misalignment (scoliosis) or humpback (kyphosis).
• Weakness or instability of the spine: If abnormal or strong movement between the two vertebrae, the spine becomes weak and unstable. This is a common side effect of arthritis in the spine. In such cases, you may consider spinal fusion to restore spinal stability.
• Spondylolysis: In this spinal deformity, a vertebra slips, and its alignment concerning the lower vertebra is lost. Suffering from this condition can cause severe back pain and numbness in the legs.
• Lumbar disc herniation: After treating this procedure, you can also opt for spinal fusion to stabilize the spine.

If you need spinal fusion surgery, your doctor will explain the options. After this procedure, the movement in the painful areas of the spine will stop, its function will increase, and you will return to your normal lifestyle- a pain-free life. Your surgeon will explain to you the different types of bone grafts.

Spinal Fusion Surgery Procedure

Since the surgeon performs this operation under anesthesia, you will not feel any pain or anything else. The entire surgery may take several hours. The surgeon prepares the bone graft material. This bone that the surgeon will transplant can take from your hip bone or be artificial. Check out the spinal fusion surgery steps in Turkey in general:

• Preparation

Specialists perform preoperative tests a few days before surgery. It would be best to tell your doctor about all the medicines you use during this process. You can continue to take the medications your doctor has allowed. It would be best to stop using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 1-2 weeks before the surgery.

It would be best if you also quit smoking before surgery. The most important thing to achieve successful results after spinal fusion surgery is to quit smoking before the surgery. Smoking inhibits bone growth and reduces the likelihood of fracture.

• Anesthesia

Spinal fusion surgery performs by specialists using general anesthesia. Thus, you will not be conscious during the procedure, and you will not feel pain. During the process, you lie on your arm with a blood pressure cuff and electrodes on your chest from a heart monitor.

• Process

To access the vertebra to be fused, the surgeon makes an incision in the neck, back, abdomen, throat, or directly across the spine. Thus, the surgeon opens access for the procedure. Bone grafts fuse the two vertebrae from a bone bank or your own body, usually the hipbone. If it’s your bone, the surgeon creates a gap above your hipbone, removes a small portion, and closes it.

To permanently fuse the vertebrae, the surgeon places bone graft material between the vertebrae. The specialist may also use metal plates, screws, or rods to help hold the vertebrae together as they heal. In some cases, surgeons use synthetic materials instead of bone grafts. These synthetic materials help increase bone growth and accelerate the fusion of the vertebrae.

• Final

Finally, the surgeon closes the incisions. Spinal fusion surgery results and recovery time are different for each patient. These depend on the patient’s health and lifestyle. Maintain a positive attitude and perform your physical therapy treatments as directed by your doctor. The operation’s success depends on the method used by the surgeon to complete the process, your general health, and whether you smoke.

Recovery After Spinal Fusion Surgery

After spinal fusion surgery in Turkey, you must stay in the hospital for recovery. At first, the doctor will want to monitor you for reaction to anesthesia and surgery. Your discharge date will depend on your general physical condition, doctor’s procedures, and response to the procedure. Take a look at the recovery process after spinal fusion surgery in general:

• You will receive pain medication while you are in the hospital. You will also receive instructions on new ways to move, as the moves you can make are limited.
• After leaving the hospital, you may need to wear a corset to align your spine.
• You may not be able to resume normal activities until your body has repositioned the bone.
• Healing may take six weeks or longer. Your doctor may recommend physical rehabilitation to help you strengthen your back and learn safe moving methods.
• Full recovery from spinal fusion surgery takes 3 to 6 months. Your age, general health, and physical condition will affect how quickly you recover and return to normal activities.

How Much Does Spinal Fusion Surgery Cost?

Spinal fusion surgery cost in Turkey can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of surgery, surgeon’s experience, techniques, and materials. For example, traditional spinal fusion surgery, which involves cutting and removing the damaged disc or vertebra, tends to be less expensive than newer procedures such as minimally invasive spinal fusion or robot-assisted spinal fusion.

The aim of this article is to give you a general information about the surgical intervention in question. You need to make more research about possible complications and risks of this selected procedure in order to make an informed decision. Please note that complications occur more frequently with patients who are obese, smoke, and have a history or lung or other chronic underlying medical conditions.

Smokers are recognized to have a significantly higher risk of post operative wound healing problems with a subsequently higher potential of infection as well as operative and post operative bleeding. Patients should discontinue smoking for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery. Although it helps to stop smoking before and after surgery, this does not completely eliminate the increased risks resulting from long­ term smoking. Smoking also has a long term adverse effect on the skin and ageing process.