Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion

Minimally Invasive Lumbar fusion is performed to stabilize the vertebral bones and spinal joints. It is a procedure that treats back and leg pain caused by spinal instability.

We consider the Minimally invasive lumbar fusion when conservative treatments like oral medications, physical therapy as well as interventional pain management treatments like epidural steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation fail. If you are experiencing chronic low back and leg pain due to spinal instability, you do not have to tolerate the same any longer.

Unlike open or traditional surgery, minimally invasive lumbar fusion requires one or more small (half-inch) incisions through the skin. The procedure causes less damage to your muscles and needs less recovery time. The considerable advantage is that you can go home the same day and your recovery period is usually a week.

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection

Who Needs This Treatment?

Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion is an options for patients suffering from chronic back and leg pain along with one, or more, of the following diagnoses:

Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD): When there are anatomic changes and a loss of function of varying degrees of one or more intervertebral discs

Spinal stenosis: When a spinal column gets narrowed and extends pressure on the spinal cord and nerves

Spondylolisthesis (spinal instability):  When two backbones shift which may pinch a spinal nerve to cause leg pain

Lumbar Radiculopathy:  When an inflammation of a nerve root in the lower back causes symptoms of pain or irritation in the back and down the legs.

How Is Minimally Invasive Lumbar Fusion Performed?

The procedure is done through a minimally invasive incision in the back of the patient where the physician dissects tissue and muscle off spinous processes. After completing site preparation the doctor places an interspinous spacer on the spine and ratchets the two sides of the implant together for a full closure. This reinforcement of the spine is known as a fusion.

FAQs

The procedure is performed just once. However, an additional implant can be added at a different spine level in future, if needed.
  • Average pain reduction of 70%
  • Patients are more active and see a reduction in medication usage
  • Minimal to no complications
Certain restrictions allow patients to avoid twisting and bending. It also requires you to prevent pushing, lifting or pulling objects greater than 5lbs.
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