Posterior Lumbar Fusion

Spinal fusion, also called arthrodesis, is a surgical technique used to join two or more vertebrae (bones) within the spine. Lumbar fusion technique is the procedure of fusing the vertebrae in lumbar portion of the spine (lower back).

Indications

Lumbar fusion surgery may be used to treat spondylolisthesis (slipping of the spine bones), degenerated discs, scoliosis or kyphosis (abnormal curvature of the spine), spinal infections or tumours, traumatic injury of the spine, recurrent disc herniation, and unstable spine.

The surgery can be done as an open or laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery.

Procedure

Posterior spinal fusion is a procedure where the surgeon makes an incision on the patient’s back part of the body exposing the spine; the soft tissues and blood vessels are kept apart.

In spinal fusion, a piece of bone, taken from other parts of the body or donated from a bone bank is transplanted between the adjacent vertebrae. Screws, plates, or cages may be used with the bone graft to help hold the spine.