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Side Effects of Anterior Fusion

If you need surgery to treat the pain caused by degeneration of the intervertebral discs in your spine, your doctor could recommend anterior fusion surgery. Potential side effects of anterior fusion include infection and pain.

  1. Anterior Fusion

    • A doctor performs anterior fusion surgery by making an incision in the front of your throat. He removes the damaged intervertebral disc, then fuses the vertebrae together with a bone graft.

    Infection

    • One potential side effect of anterior fusion is infection. You could develop a superficial infection at the incision site. You could also contract an infection at the site of the bone graft.

    Pseudo-Arthritis

    • Pseudo-arthritis occurs when you experience pain as a complication of anterior fusion. It is caused by an attempted fusion that has not properly healed, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

    Others

    • Other side effects of anterior fusion include paralysis caused by damage to your spinal cord and chronic pain.

    Treatment

    • Infection can be treated with antibiotics. In severe cases, the bone graft can be removed and replaced with new material. Your doctor can treat pseudo-arthritis by adding more bone graft to your fusion or replacing metal hardware used during the procedure. If you are in pain after surgery, your doctor can discuss pain management options with you.

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