Call Now!
Torrance Office: +1 (424) 360-0155
The spine is one of the most important parts of the body, protecting delicate nerves and blood vessels as they flow from the brain out to the rest of the body. There are some situations where someone might require spinal fusion surgery. If someone has been told that he or she is going to require spinal fusion surgery, there are a few important points that everyone should remember.
Spinal fusion surgery is a surgical procedure that is used to fuse two or more vertebrae together. The vertebrae are small bones that protect the spinal cord as it travels from the brain to the pelvis. The vertebrae are connected by muscles, tendons, and ligaments that provide the back with a certain degree of flexibility.
During spinal fusion surgery, a trained orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon will open up the back to reveal the damaged vertebrae. Then, the surgeon will use metal rods to join the vertebrae together. These rods will prevent the two vertebrae from shifting on top of one another; however, any vertebrae that are not fused together will still have the same range of motion relative to one another. There are situations where someone might require a multi-level fusion, where three or more vertebrae are fused together. These are rare procedures and will be handled on a case by case basis.
There are several conditions and diseases that might be treated using spinal fusion in Torrance. Some of the conditions that may require Torrance spine surgery include:
Herniated Disc: Some patients might require spinal fusion surgery to treat a herniated disc. A herniated disc is diagnosed when one of the cushions between the vertebrae ends up rupturing. While this condition is typically treated with anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy first, there are certain situations where spinal fusion surgery is required.
Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves abnormally from left to right (or vice versa). Typically, this condition is treated using a back brace and physical therapy; however, certain chronic medical conditions (such as cerebral palsy) can lead to severe muscle contractures that make scoliosis much worse. In this situation, spinal fusion can be helpful.
Degenerative Disc Disease: There is another chronic medical condition called degenerative disc disease that might cause someone to have spinal fusion surgery as well. In this condition, the discs between the vertebrae start to degenerate slowly and gradually. Eventually, this will lead to pain and discomfort between the vertebrae. This discomfort can be treated with spinal fusion surgery.
These are a few of the most common reasons why someone might need to have spinal fusion surgery in Torrance. When someone is about to undergo Torrance spinal fusion surgery, there are a few expectations to have.
Before spinal fusion is recommended, all other treatment options will be tried. This might include pain medication, physical therapy, and other procedures. Spinal fusion is a major surgical procedure and is only used by our office as a last resort. The procedure will be explained in detail with all the risks and benefits included.
On the day of the procedure, you will be taken back to the operating room. Anesthesia will be used to put you to sleep during the procedure. Then, the operation will be completed. It will take several hours. Then, you will be taken to wake up in a comfortable recovery area.
At Rolling Hills Medical, we only recommend Torrance spine surgery as a last resort; however, if you need surgery, trust us to take care of you. We work hard to stay up to date on the latest treatment options in our field. Allow us to leverage our expertise to help you. Call us today at 424-250-8699 to learn more!
