Lumbar fusion surgery is an operation where we join two or more bones at the back together. We're doing that typically with placement of screws and rods. And then as part of the surgery, we're typically removing a degenerated or herniated disc. And then we replace that with either a spacer or a cage, with the goals being to decompress the nerves, stabilize the spine, realign the spine.
Before surgery, patients obviously will see us in the office where they'll get a thorough history and physical, and we'll decide if they're even a candidate for surgery. The surgery is rarely the first option chosen, so almost everybody is going to get some sort of conservative treatment and the majority of patients can do well with this. But ultimately if their pain and quality of life are diminished and their match their imaging, then they can be a candidate for surgery and we discuss that in more detail. Today's fusion techniques have certainly come a long way compared to fifteen or twenty years ago with a lot of the focus being on more minimally invasive techniques using smaller incisions, less tissue which ultimately leads to typically less blood loss, lower rates of infection, and faster return to activities for our patients.
The most important thing about lumbar fusion surgery is choosing the right operation for the right patient. For those that are good candidates, we see typically very excellent results. Obviously, of these things take time for them to see the maximum benefit, but most patients can return back to the activities they were enjoying before surgery, and many of them could not do things before surgery because of their pain that now they're able to do.
