Spine Surgery by Spinal Fusion: Benefits vs. Risks

Iñaki Arrotegui

Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Spain

^*Correspondance to: Iñaki Arrotegui 

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Abstract:

The fixation of the lumbar spine allows to recover the stability or to correct the alignment of the vertebrae in the cases in which there is an alteration, either by degenerative, post-surgical, congenital or traumatic processes. In many cases, this fixation will be carried out by means of transpedicular screws, which are inserted into the vertebrae through the pedicle (portion that unites the anterior part (body) and the posterior part (arch) of the vertebra). This path allows you to obtain a good anchor point in order to achieve the desired correction. In other cases intersomatic boxes will be associated, a kind of wedges that are placed between the vertebrae. These will allow another point of support, while providing greater stability to the column. While these are the most frequent methods there are many others, such as interspinous devices, screws to lateral masses, laminar screws, among others. It consists of the subjection of two or more vertebrae by fusion ("welding") of the bone thereof. It is a surgical option in cases of spinal instability, isthmic and/or degenerative spondylolisthesis, facet arthropathy, post-operative instability, disc hernia recurrence and degenerative scoliosis. The common denominator of many of these conditions is the segmental instability of the spine, defined as loss or reduction of the mechanical integrity of a mobile segment of the spine, which is manifested by pain or neurological symptoms when loads are applied to it. The main objective of spinal lumbar arthrodesis is to minimize or eliminate mobility by increasing the load capacity of the injured mobile segment.

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Cite the Article:

Arrotegui I. Spine Surgery by Spinal Fusion: Benefits vs. Risks. World J Surg Surgical Res. 2018; 1: 1079.