Providing Support for the Neck and Back

If you have suffered injury to the spine, have misaligned vertebrae, or have undergone previous treatment for conditions such as spinal stenosis or a herniated disc, you may benefit from spinal fusion. At Frisco Spine, we have a multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, physical physiatrists, and therapists who have extensive experience in both non-surgical and surgical spinal treatment. Though we advocate conservative management as the first line of treatment, we are always open to the possibility of surgical treatment, if necessary. We can conduct a comprehensive examination of your health and determine whether spinal fusion is necessary to meet your needs. We encourage you to contact Frisco Spine today to schedule a consultation.

Cervical Spinal Fusion

Also known as arthrodesis, cervical spinal fusion is a surgery in which selected bones in the spinal column are fused together. The surgery may be necessary for a number of reasons; it can be performed to stabilize the neck in the event of an injury, prevent bone fractures from causing irreparable damage to the spinal cord, treat medical conditions such as vertebrae misalignment, and follow up on treatment of conditions such as arthritis, spinal deformities, and tumors.

The cervical spine refers specifically to the seven vertebrae of the spinal column making up the neck. Each vertebra is separated by an intervertebral disc. Cervical spinal fusion involves the fusing of two or more vertebrae together to relieve pressure on more than one nerve root caused by excessive neck movement. Through cervical fusion, our Frisco team can stop vertebral motion and eliminate pain. Though the procedure varies from patient to patient, surgery typically takes between one and two hours. The surgery will likely require a one night hospital stay, but some patients leave the same day and a brace may need to be worn for a few weeks during recovery.

Lumbar Fusion

The lumbar spine consists of the vertebrae at the base of the spinal column. As with cervical spinal fusion, lumbar fusion involves the locking of two or more vertebrae together to relieve pressure on nerve roots and eliminate the movement of a vertebral segment. A multitude of approaches can be taken to fuse the vertebrae together; however, at its simplest, the procedure involves grafting bone to the intervertebral disc. Degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, traumatic deformities, or a weak spine may all merit the use of spinal fusion surgery. At Frisco Spine, we can evaluate your condition and recommend an appropriate course of action.

The four primary types of lumbar fusion surgery are:

• Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – In this procedure, the spine is approached from the front of the body. Disc or bone material is then removed from two adjacent lumbar vertebrae.
• Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) – In the posterior procedure, the spine is accessed from the back, often through incisions in the left and right lower back muscles.
• Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) – As with PLIF, transforaminal lumbar fusion is completed by approaching the spine from the back. The biggest difference is that TLIF allows a lateral approach which does not require a forceful retraction of nerve roots.
• Direct Lateral Interbody Fusion (DLIF) – This technique involves making a small incision in the patient’s side. Then, through minimally invasive techniques, a narrow passageway is created through muscle and soft tissue to access the spinal column.

We will discuss these options with you in detail and recommend the method best suited to your needs.

Is Spinal Fusion for You?

We encourage you to learn more about this treatment if you suffer from acute or chronic back pain. Through cervical and lumbar spinal fusion, our Frisco team can eliminate pain caused by painful movement of vertebral segments. We take great care to provide for our patients’ needs – all of our services are performed on one campus and we guide individuals through every step of their treatment – and we would love to work with you. Please schedule a consultation with Frisco Spine today. Our center is situated in or near Carrollton, McKinney, and Denton.