What Is Lumbar Fusion?

Lumbar fusion is the correction of an unstable part of the spine through joining two or more vertebrae. The procedure is done to minimize back pain in a patient.

Fusion

• Lumbar fusion involves using a bone graft, the transplanting of bone, to force two vertebral bones to fuse into one extended bone.

Bone Graft

• The bone required for the bone graft can be taken from the hip, can be a cadaver bone or can even be manufactured.

Types

• The different types of lumbar fusions are posterolateral gutter fusion and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (done through the back), anterior lumbar interbody fusion (done from the front) and anterior/posterior spinal fusion (done from the both the front and the back).

Effects

• When the fusion is completed, lumbar spine stability increases, but flexibility decreases.

Considerations

• There are risks associated with the surgery. Occasionally, the patient's pain will persist despite a successful fusion.