Spinal Fusion Surgery in Türkiye

What is spinal fusion surgery?

The goal of spinal fusion surgery is to stabilize a fractured vertebra due to compression and alleviate pain caused by movement. Spinal fusion is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, as it is done through a small incision in the skin rather than an open cut.

Typically, a standard spinal fusion procedure takes about an hour.

Preparation for surgery:

It is common not to eat or drink anything for less than 6 hours before undergoing spinal fusion surgery. For example, if the surgery is scheduled in the morning, the doctor may instruct not to consume any food or beverages after midnight before the procedure. Usually, a small amount of water is allowed up to two hours before surgery.

In addition, there may be some restrictions on medications in the days leading up to the surgery. Some medications may need to be stopped, while others may require dosage adjustments.

These restrictions can vary widely depending on the individual’s health condition.

How is spinal fusion surgery performed?

While there may be variations in how spinal fusion surgery is performed, the procedure is typically done as follows:

The patient goes to the X-ray room or operating room and lies comfortably on a padded table where the procedure will be performed.
The area of the back where the needle will enter is sterilized.
Local anesthesia and mild sedation are administered. The patient should not feel pain in the area where the procedure is done, but they are usually awake and responsive throughout the procedure.
Using fluoroscopic guidance, which displays X-ray images on a video screen in real-time, a bone biopsy needle is directed into the fractured vertebra through a small hole in the skin.
Fluoroscopy is essential for precisely placing the needle inside the fractured compression vertebra without damaging critical nearby structures, such as the spinal cord.
Bone cement, a specially designed bone material, is injected directly into the fractured vertebra. The bone cement fills the cracks within the bone to create a kind of inner cast to stabilize the vertebra bone.
The needle is removed, and the bone cement hardens quickly (within about 10 minutes), strengthening the fractured vertebra fragments and stabilizing the bone.
The small skin hole is covered with a dressing.

Typically, the patient is kept under observation for about two hours to ensure that the medication has worn off, and the bone cement has hardened without causing complications.

After the observation period, the patient is free to leave the hospital and can return home on the same day.

Recovery from spinal fusion surgery:

In the first 24 hours after spinal fusion surgery, it is usually recommended to bed rest or relax at home. Levels of activity can gradually increase, and most regular medications can be resumed. There may be some pain for a few days at the site of the puncture, which can be relieved with the use of an ice pack.

Most patients require pain medication within 24 to 48 hours after the surgery. Returning to more intense physical activities, such as participating in sports or heavy weightlifting, may not be advised for up to 6 weeks.

Potential complications of the surgery:

Like all surgeries performed inside the body and involving medications, some risks are involved in spinal fusion surgery, including infection, allergic reactions, and excessive bleeding. Other potential complications of spinal fusion surgery include:

Bone cement leakage: This can occur when bone cement leaks outside the intended compression fracture cracks. Fortunately, there are rarely any complications associated with bone cement leakage outside the fracture, especially if the amount is small. However, bone cement can leak into the spinal nerve root or spinal cord, which can increase pain, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness and may cause problems with function and movement.
Paralysis: Spinal fusion surgery is performed near the spinal cord and other important nerves, so a misplacement of the needle can lead to damage resulting in weakness and/or paralysis of one or more limbs. These cases occur due to the surgeon’s lack of experience.
Failure to relieve pain: Sometimes, spinal fusion may not improve symptoms, even if there were no errors or complications during the surgery.