Spinal fusion is a procedure that removes the spinal disc between two vertebrae of the spine and fuses the two vertebrae together with a metal device or bone graft. When multiple vertebrae are fused together, the procedure is called a multiple point or multi-level spinal fusion. Multiple point spinal fusions carry a high risk of severe complications, and up to 40 percent of patients require additional operations, according to an article published in the January 2010 issue of "Orthopedic Reviews."
Increased Back Pain
Multiple point spinal fusions often result in increased back pain and a loss of movement and flexibility in the spine. The individual vertebrae of the back need to be able to move relative to each other for full motion of the back. When multiple vertebrae of the back are fused together, multiple joints in the spine are reduced to a single joint, which greatly restricts bending of the back, reports Johns Hopkins Orthopaedics at Good Samaritan Hospital. Multiple point fusions also place increased stress on the nearby joints of the spine, a condition known as adjacent segment disease.
Failed Surgery
Failed back surgery syndrome is the name given to unsuccessful back surgeries that require additional surgeries. Spinal fusions can be unsuccessful for several reasons, such as failure of the bone graft or metal implants to take hold, explains the article published in "Orthopedic Reviews." The screws holding the metal implants may also loosen, break or become displaced.
Nerve Damage
The spine holds the spinal cord, a delicate bundle of nerves that connects the brain to the rest of the body. Any surgery involving the spine can potentially damage these nerves, resulting in different symptoms depending on where the damage occurs. Up to 16 percent of patients can suffer damage to the sensory nerves, which detect sensations such as touch, heat and pain, reports the study in "Orthopedic Reviews." Damage to the motor nerves, which control muscle movements in the arms, legs and other parts of the body can occur in up to 11 percent of patients. In addition, nerve damage can cause increased back pain and problems with the bladder or bowels.
Surgical Complications
Any major surgery carries the risk of several complications caused by the surgical procedures. The site of the incision can become infected with bacteria or other pathogens. In addition, the general anesthesia used to sedate patients can cause several complications such as respiratory problems, pneumonia, heart attack and kidney damage, explains an article published in the "Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine." Blood clots are another possible complication of surgery, particularly in the legs. If a blood clots breaks away from the site of formation, it can travel to the heart, lungs or brain, causing heart attack, pulmonary embolism or stroke.
References
- "Orthopedic Reviews"; Mid-range Outcomes in 64 Consecutive Cases of Multilevel Fusion for Degenerative Diseases of the Lumbar Spine; Marc Rollinghoff et al.; January 2010
- Johns Hopkins Orthopaedics at Good Samaritan Hospital: Spinal Fusion Surger
- "Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine"; Effects of Age on Perioperative Complications of Extensive Multilevel Thoracolumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery; Jordan M. Cloyd et al.; 2010
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Low Back Pain Fact Sheet
