Options to Spinal Fusion Surgery – How Safe Are They?
Introduction Back pain affects every aspect of your life. When conservative treatments fail, many patients are told that spinal fusion is their only option. This highly invasive, major surgery involves permanently connecting two or more vertebrae in your spine to eliminate motion between them. It has numerous surgical risks and many long-term complications. Advances in […]
Collateral Damage Caused by Spinal Fusion Surgery
Spinal fusion surgery is often marketed as a permanent solution for chronic neck and back pain by fusing two or more vertebrae to eliminate painful movement and improve spinal alignment. The surgical approach needed to reach the spine can cause unavoidable damage to the intricate network of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints that support it. […]
The Danger of Infections After Spinal Fusion Surgery
Spinal surgery is generally considered an invasive procedure; however, even minimally invasive (MIS) spine procedures carry the same risk of postoperative infection. Why? Regardless of the level of invasiveness, bacteria and fungi consistently remain the primary causes of surgical site infection(SSI). Spinal fusion surgeries have a higher risk of SSI because they involve spinal hardware […]
Laminectomy: Decompression Through Destruction
The primary purpose of a laminectomy, also known as decompression surgery, is to alleviate pressure on the spinal cord or the nerves that branch out from it by creating space with the removal of a portion of a vertebra called the lamina. This pressure, often referred to as compression, can cause pain, numbness, or weakness […]
ACCF: Fusion Is the Risk
Anterior Cervical Corpectomy with Fusion (ACCF): Fusion Is The Risk Anterior Cervical Corpectomy with Fusion, often abbreviated as ACCF, is a complex, invasive surgical technique that addresses serious problems in the cervical spine—the part of your spine that makes up your neck. This article provides a concise overview of ACCF, explaining what it is, the […]
Key Risks of TLIF Spine Surgery
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF): Potential Complications And Occurrence Rates Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) is a surgical procedure used to fuse or join two or more vertebrae in the lumbar (lower) spine. As a type of spinal fusion, its primary goal is to stabilize the spinal vertebrae and reduce pressure on spinal nerves. The […]
The 7 Risks of XLIF Spine Surgery
Deciding on spinal surgery is a major step toward improving your quality of life. If you and your surgeon are considering Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF), you probably have many questions. While this minimally invasive procedure offers advantages like a quicker recovery, it’s essential to have an honest and clear discussion about the possible risks. […]
Understanding The Risks of Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF)
The pain of a chronic lumbar spine condition affects every aspect of your life. Doctors typically recommend PLIF, a highly invasive procedure, for conditions that cause significant instability or nerve compression, such as degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and recurrent herniated discs. Like any major invasive medical procedure, PLIF carries its own risks and […]
ACDF Surgery: Is It Safe?
Deciding to undergo surgery involving your neck and spine can be a daunting experience filled with questions and concerns. One of the most common procedures for neck pain and nerve compression is the Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion, or ACDF. This surgery is often recommended for conditions such as herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and […]
Top 5 Reasons to Avoid ALIF Surgery
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, or ALIF, was the first spinal fusion surgical procedures developed, using bone grafts and cage hardware to treat degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, and other conditions that cause chronic back pain. While ALIF can provide pain relief, it carries significant complications and risks. Let’s start by defining ALIF […]