The American Association of Neurological Surgeons say 75 to 85 percent of Americans will suffer some form of back pain during their lives. Ninety percent of back pain cases improve without surgery. For the other 10 percent, a procedure called spinal fusion may offer relief.

According to the American Journal of Neuroradiology, lumbar spinal fusion procedures were first used to treat individuals with misaligned spines or infections in the spine, but are increasingly performed to treat degenerative disc disease and disc pain syndromes.

The procedure usually involves cleaning out the existing disc between two vertebrae and replacing it with bone graft material. In addition, a stabilizing device, wires, rods or screws are often used to stabilize the area. It can be performed through the abdomen in a procedure called anterior lumbar interbody fusion, or through the back with posterior lumbar interbody fusion. Posterior fusion is usually a supplemental surgery since it's difficult to insert large devices from behind the spine.

The ultimate goal of lumbar spinal fusion is to maintain normal height, prevent motion between the vertebrae and reduce pain. The Mayo Clinic says the number of spinal fusions in the United States has more than doubled since 1993.

Traditional spinal fusion surgery is an open procedure -- it involves a large incision and peeling muscles from the spine to access the disc space. Traditional spinal fusion surgery patients can expect to remain in the hospital for three to four days, and recovery time is comparable to that of a broken bone.

Healing can take several months, with the earliest possible point of bone healing at six weeks (North American Spine Society). Because the spinal fusion prevents the surrounding vertebrae from moving, patients need rehabilitation to learn how to move properly.

Although the incidence of complications after low back surgery is low, candidates for this type of surgery should be aware of the following risks:

Infection

Heart attack

Stroke

Blood clots

Recurrent disc herniations

Nerve damage

The new minimally invasive procedure called axial lumbar interbody fusion (AxiaLIF) offers patients a less painful option for back surgery. Through an incision smaller than one inch in length, and by way of the spine, the surgeon cleans out the painful disc and inserts bone fusion substance. The surgeon then stabilizes the area with screws.

Because of the surgery's less invasive approach, patients are in the hospital for one to two days, and recovery takes from six to 12 weeks.

"It's much less painful for the patients and therefore, they can get up and get moving much more quickly in the hospital and leave the hospital sooner," Stephen Goll, M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon at the Orlando Orthopedic Center in Orlando, Fla., said.

Patients that opt for AxiaLIF still need rehabilitation to prevent further damage to the spine. The risks for AxiaLIF are about the same as for open surgery.

Additional Resources:

Orlando Orthopaedic Center
(407) 254-4058
dr.goll@orlandoortho.com
OrlandoOrtho.com

Trans1, Inc.
(866) 500-4349
Trans1.com