Say Goodbye to Back Pain

1. Fusion of vertebrae: Spinal fusion may also be referred to as “arthrodesis”
   (Arthro – joint; desis – fusion). In this type of surgery, the two adjacent
   vertebrae are joined together so that no further movement is possible between
   them at the facet joints.


2. Instrumentation: Posterior fusions can be supplemented by specially designed
   fixation devices such as wires, cables, screws, rods, and plates. These devices
   increase stability and facilitate fusion.

Total disc replacement surgery using artificial discs should not be done for patients with
osteoarthritis of the facet joints, as the surgery will do nothing to decrease the pain
during movement caused by arthritis. Patients suffering from osteoporosis or
spondylolisthesis are not suitable candidates for an artificial disc. Artificial disc
surgery should ONLY be done for those individuals with degenerative disc
disease without arthritis of the facet joints. Even in these cases, to date it is
still an experimental procedure.

only

Instead of fusing the spine after a discectomy, surgeons nowadays
may implant an artificial disc. The advantage is that an artificial disc
enables a patient to retain normal movement after surgery.

useful in

selected cases

replacement is

Artificial disc

Unfortunately, there are a number of drawbacks to undergoing a spinal fusion. First, the
ability of the bone to heal or fuse varies. The average success rate of a lumbar spinal
fusion is approximately 75%-80%. Failure of the fusion to heal may be associated with
continued symptoms. Second, a spinal fusion at one or more levels will cause stiffness
and decreased motion of the spine. Third, having a spinal fusion at one or more levels
will cause the weight of the body and more stress to be transferred to adjacent levels. The
problem with the transferred stress is that it may cause new

problems to develop at the other levels, which may also lead to
additional back surgery.

Artificial Discs