Why Fusion for Spinal Stenosis?

The bones of your spine, known as vertebrae, create a canal that protects your spinal cord and its nerve roots. As you age, the discs between your vertebrae become thinner and the spinal canal narrows. This condition, known as spinal stenosis, may cause pain, numbness, and/or weakness pain in your arms or legs.

• Spinal fusion stabilizes the spine after surgery.

Factors

• If your quality of life deteriorates because of the pain and weakness from spinal stenosis, or you can't walk very far without having to sit down, your doctor may recommend surgery. (See Reference 1)

Types

• There are two common surgeries for spinal stenosis: laminectomy and laminectomy with spinal fusion.

Features

• A laminectomy allows the surgeon to widen the spinal canal by removing pieces of bone and ligaments. To do a spinal fusion, the surgeon performs a laminectomy and then uses a bone graft to permanently fuse adjoining vertebrae.

Considerations

• Spinal fusion is recommended when arthritic changes allow your vertebrae to easily slip out of place. By fusing the bones together, the surgeon keeps them from moving and eliminates future slipping.

Outcomes

• A laminectomy, with or without fusion, yields good to excellent results 80 percent of the time, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.