Paul McDonough, MD, practices spine surgery at Orthopedic Associates of Abilene in Texas. There, Dr. Paul McDonough offers spine fusion surgery and other procedures of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
As its name indicates, spine fusion surgery involves joining bones of the spine to form a single structure. The purpose is to eliminate the motion of the joint causing the pain while preventing painful stretching of the nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. In some cases, the surgeon may also remove tissue or bone compressing the nerves and spinal cord.
The surgeon may choose to perform the procedure by approaching the spine from the front, back, or side, depending on the needs of the patient and the nature of the condition. If the procedure will include a graft of natural bone from the patient's own body, the surgeon will also make an incision in the hip to extract the bone. Because this is more invasive and may involve more postsurgical pain, many patients receive cadaver or artificial bone.
The procedure involves placing the bone graft material between the relevant vertebrae. In some cases, assistive hardware such as screws, rods, or plates may hold the graft in place as it heals. Healing may take weeks to months, during which bracing and physical therapy help to support alignment of the spine.