Lumbar Fusions

Lumbar spine fusion, popularly known as spinal fusion or arthrodesis, is a specialized surgical intervention for various spine conditions, especially those affecting the lower back. Dr. Shelby Burks, a board-certified neurospine surgeon in Miami, provides state-of-the-art lumbar fusion techniques for patients suffering from debilitating conditions of the spine such as severe back pain and spinal instability.

Lumbar spine fusion is the surgical joining of one or more lumbar vertebrae to eliminate their movement. It is meant to correct pathologies like spondylolisthesis, where there is slippage of vertebrae from their alignment, degenerative diseases of the disc, fractures, herniated discs, and any other spinal deformity. Lumbar fusion restores the normal stability and strength of the spine, thereby reducing pain and discomfort caused by movement.

Conditions Treated with Lumbar Fusion, Miami

All the spinal conditions treated by Dr. Burks using lumbar fusion practice give rise to constant pain and discomfort. They fall into:

• Spondylolisthesis: A condition where the vertebrae slip forward on another vertebra, thereby causing nerve compression and pain.
• Degenerative Disc Diseases: Wearing out of intervertebral discs involves pain and restriction of movement.
• Recurrent Herniated Disks: These occur when a disc bulges or ruptures and compresses adjacent nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness.
• Instability of the Spine: These conditions arise due to weakening of the spine, such as arthritis, infection, and trauma.
• Scoliosis and Kyphosis: Abnormal spinal curvatures that coincide with pain and deformity.
• Fractured Vertebrae: This is a traumatic vertebra fracture regarding those fractured vertebrae in the condition of instability due to spinal fractures and severe pain.

Lumbar fusion, in effect, has economical long-term treatment for patients with these conditions by alleviating pain and restoring the spine’s structure.

Why the Procedure Is Performed?

Surgeons will conduct spinal fusion with other surgical procedures on the spine. In most cases, the procedure may be done along with other surgical procedures, such as the following listed below:

• Laminectomy or foraminotomy for the treatment of spinal stenosis
• After a diskectomy in the neck

Doctors may recommend spinal fusion to treat the following conditions:

• Injury or fractures of the spinal cord
• Arthritis of the spine (spinal stenosis)
• Weak spine
• Unstable spines resulting from infections or tumors
• Spondylolisthesis (a condition resulting from the slipping of one vertebra forward on top of another)
• Abnormal curvatures (due to scoliosis or kyphosis)

The surgeon usually has a detailed discussion with the patient before deciding when to have the surgery.

Over time, the bones will grow and then fuse to form a single unit, thus relieving pain and allowing more movement.

Posterior Lumbar Fusion Procedure

This surgical procedure is usually performed as follows:

An open surgery Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery

Dr. Burks will make an incision in the patient’s back to expose the spine for posterior spinal fusion. Special care is taken to keep the soft tissues and blood vessels apart. This is important to avoid damage.

A piece of bone taken from other parts of the body is transplanted between the nearby vertebrae to perform spinal fusion. The piece of bone used can also be taken from a donor bone bank. The spine is held in place by using screws, plates, or cages.

Under what conditions the lumbar fusion treatment is done?

Dr. Burks prefers doing the least invasive treatments possible for his patients after assessing their condition. Surgery is often suggested as the last resort. He may recommend lumbar fusion only when all nonsurgical treatments fail to improve a painful back condition. The following conditions can be treated by a lumbar fusion when conventional options fail:

Herniated Disc

A spinal disc herniates and bulges outward. This causes the pressing of a nerve.

Treatment: Dr. Burks will fuse the vertebrae lying above and below the disc. This helps relieve excess pressure on the nerve.

Scoliosis and Kyphosis

These conditions are known to cause an abnormal curve in the spine.

Treatment: Dr. Burks will fuse the damaged vertebrae to treat scoliosis and kyphosis.

Spinal Instability

The condition leads to weakness of the spine and arthritis resulting from prolonged repetitive motion between two vertebrae.

Treatment: Dr. Burks will fuse two vertebrae to restore the stability and strength of the spine.

Fractured Vertebrae

In most cases, fractured vertebrae heal on their own with complete rest and immobilization. However, in severe cases where a fracture leads to an unstable spine, Dr. Burks may recommend lumbar fusion.

Spondylolisthesis

This is a painful condition characterized by the slipping of one vertebra, placing excess and abnormal pressure on the nerves. Spondylolisthesis is also known to cause numbness and tingling throughout the body.

Treatment: Dr. Burks will remove the parts of the displaced vertebra affecting the nerves. Thereafter, he uses fusion to restore mobility. This treatment also offers significant pain relief.

Recovery after Surgery

Time taken for recovery differs from patient to patient, but usually: 

• One to two days of hospital stay are usual after surgery. 
• For the first few weeks, you will probably need to take it easy and avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities.
• In most cases, light activity can start after a few weeks, full recovery may take several months. 
• You will be expected to undergo physical therapy to strengthen your spine and improve its flexibility.

Dr. Burks will be providing specific recommendations to assist you in quick recovery. This includes:

Pain Management:

There will be quite some pain post-operation, but Dr. Burks will control it via medication.

Physical Therapy: 

After a few weeks, you will start physical therapy to recover strength and movement.

Activity Restrictions: 

Certain activities and heavy lifting would have to be avoided for a few months to allow complete recovery.

What are the risks or complications of spinal fusion?

All surgical procedures carry certain risks. A spinal fusion is no exception. Some major categories of risk associated with this surgery include the following:

• Infection risk
• Blood loss
• Damage to some major anatomic structures (such as joints, nerves, and blood vessels)
• Developing additional spinal issues in the future

However, the above-listed risks are just generalized versions based on research on spinal fusion surgeries in the past. Each individual has a unique inherent risk profile. Each surgery is different and carries unique risks. Hence, the best thing to do is to discuss these topics with your surgeon directly during the initial consultation session.

What should I expect from a lumbar fusion procedure?

Dr. Burks is an experienced surgeon in Miami, South Florida, who uses the most advanced technology to perform minimally invasive lumbar fusion surgery. This procedure involves the following steps:

• The patient is given general anesthesia to ensure he or she is asleep during the surgery.
• The surgeon makes tiny incisions near the lumbar vertebrae.
• Any damaged tissue is carefully removed prior to fusing the vertebrae together with a bone graft.
• The graft is usually taken from another bone in the patient’s body, primarily from the pelvis or donor tissue.
• Dr. Burks will place the graft between the vertebrae. The bones are fused together using screws, plates, and/or rods. These help in promoting stability.
• Once the procedure is completed successfully, Dr. Burks provides all necessary instructions on lumbar spine fusion recovery to the patient. This is to ensure an optimal outcome.

If you are looking for advanced expertise and consultation for lumbar fusion from an experienced surgeon, call Burks Spine Surgery. You may book an appointment online today.

Dr. Shelby Burks – Patient’s first choice for Lumber Spine Surgeon, Miami

Dr. Shelby Burks is a qualified neurosurgeon involved in spine and neurosurgery disorders. He possesses ample experience in spine surgery and practices the latest techniques and technologies of minimally invasive procedures where applicable. This consequently shortens the recovery time for patients and reduces the risk involved to a higher degree of surgery. His highly sympathetic approach and persistence to maintain a high standard of care make him a prime choice for lumbar fusion surgery in Miami.

Dr. Burks treats each patient as a partner in understanding their condition, outlining treatment options, and supporting them with every step of the journey. He strives to improve patient outcomes as much as possible so that he can lead individualized, pain-free, active lives.

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