Whether you sustained broken bones in an accident or due to chronic infection, seeking the assistance of a qualified orthopedic doctor can help revive your quality of life. The thought of being unable to perform daily tasks like walking, sitting, lifting, or sleeping can be a nightmare if you fail to get help from a Las Vegas spinal fusion specialist. Fortunately, McNulty Spine has a team dedicated to speeding up broken bone healing process. While booking an appointment for this type of surgery may be ideal, there are things to know before moving forward.
What Is Spinal Fusion Surgery?
Spinal fusion is a permanent surgical procedure that connects two or more vertebrae in your spine to eliminate any friction between them. It is designed to assist the normal healing process of broken bones. Your surgeon installs a bonelike material such as screws, metal plates, and rods in between the spinal vertebrae spaces during the procedure.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate For Spinal Fusion?
Since not all types of broken bones qualify for this type of surgery, surgeons may recommend it for patients with:
Spinal Deformities - Scoliosis Or Spondylolisthesis
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves sideways prior to puberty. This condition can be caused by muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy. Spondylolisthesis occurs when a disease attacks the lower spinal bones, causing them to slip forward onto the bone located directly below it.
Chronic Back Pain
People with chronic back pain that does not respond to other treatments can also get relief from this surgery.
Herniated Disk
Spinal surgery may be used to stabilize the spine once the herniated disk has been eliminated.
The Potential Risks
As with any surgical procedure, spinal fusion is associated with specific risks. Your doctor will inform you of the risks before your procedure and will do everything in their power to avoid potential complications. The potential risks and complications of this surgery include:
Bleeding
As is expected of most surgeries, spinal fusion can cause your body to bleed. However, this is expected and it does not get any worse than that. To avoid complications, your doctor discourages donating blood before spinal fusion.
Infection
Your body is most likely to be susceptible to infections after spinal fusion. Your doctor will prescribe specific antibiotics to prevent you from the risk of infections.
Nerve Damage
It is possible that your nerves and blood vessels may be damaged during this procedure, but the surgeons try to be careful.
Pseudarthrosis
Smokers are proven poor candidates for this type of surgery because it can lead to insufficient bone formation. Consequently, they are likely to develop pseudarthrosis. If you are a smoker, your doctor may recommend other nonsurgical treatments.
Spinal Infusion Specialist Can Help Speed Up The Healing Process Of Your Bones
Whether your broken bones were caused by scoliosis, chronic back pain, or kyphosis, seeing an orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist is the best bet you have at healing your bones. To learn more about spinal infusions, contact your McNulty Spine specialist.
