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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffSpinal fusion is surgery to permanently connect two or more vertebrae in your spine, eliminating motion between them.
Spinal fusion involves placing extra bone (bone graft) to fill the space between two spinal vertebrae. The bone graft material used in spinal fusion may be in a preformed shape, or it may be contained within a plastic, carbon fiber or metal cage. Your surgeon may use plates, screws or rods to hold the vertebrae and graft in place to promote healing after spinal fusion. Once the bone graft heals, the vertebrae are permanently connected.
Your doctor may recommend spinal fusion if you have a broken vertebra, a spinal deformity, spinal weakness, spinal instability or chronic low back pain.
- Smith ML, et al. Neurosurgery. In: Brunicardi FC, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5020575. Accessed March 8, 2010.
- Spinal fusion. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00348. Accessed March 8, 2010.
- Spinal fusion. North American Spine Society. http://www.knowyourback.org/Documents/fusion.pdf. Accessed March 8, 2010.
- Chou R. Subacute and chronic low back pain: Surgical treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 8, 2010.
- Chou R, et al. Surgery for low back pain. Spine. 2009;34:1094.
- Dayo RA, et al. Spinal-fusion surgery — The case for restraint. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;350:722.
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