Who Is a Good Candidate for Spinal Fusion?

What is spinal fusion?

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that involves connecting two or more vertebrae together to reduce pain, improve stability, or correct deformity. During a spinal fusion, a bone graft or bone-like material is placed between two vertebrae to create one solid structure. Rods, metal plates, and screws are used to hold the vertebrae in place as they fuse together.

Who is a good candidate for spinal fusion?

Spinal fusion surgery may be recommended for a number of medical conditions, including the following:

• Degenerative instability
• Spinal deformities
• Symptomatic spondylolysis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Scoliosis
• Adjacent segment disease
• Congenital spine conditions
• Spinal fractures or injuries
• Pinched nerves in the neck or lower back
• Infections in the bones or soft tissue of the spine
• Herniated discs
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondylosis
• Spinal stenosis and foraminal stenosis
• Tumors affecting the bones, soft tissue, or nerves in or around the spine

Eligibility

Factors that may affect eligibility for spinal fusion surgery include the following:

• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Smoking
• No attempts of nonsurgical treatment options
• Certain chronic health issues