Lumbar Fusion

Minimally Invasive Solution: Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Let’s face it; at some point in our lives we are all likely to experience some degree of lower back pain. There are a number of injuries and ailments that can cause and lead to this type of pain, and one reason it’s so common and reoccurring is because it’s invasive treatment solutions.

Here at Virginia Spine Specialists we like to focus on ways to cure and treat something as common as lower back pain, with the most minimally invasive solution possible. Since the lumbar region is the area where majority of the population experiences back pain and discomfort, it would make sense to offer ways to treat this pain while not imposing a major inconvenience or lengthy recovery for the patient. One way in particular to do that is through Lumbar Spinal Fusion.

Lumbar Spinal Fusion is the process in which a surgeon will create an incision and use screws to fuse the vertebrae bones together, so that they may grow in properly. Sometimes it is required to remove invertebrate discs or bone spurs in order to properly alleviate pain. In addition, there is also minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion, which consists of smaller incisions and less soft tissue damage resulting in a speedier healing process.

Although this is fairly new technology, minimally invasive lumbar spinal fusion is already yielding great results and new advances in the medical community, such as the ability to perform fusion surgery through the patient’s side. There are several techniques that allow the surgeon to make a small incision, approximately 2 inches in the patient’s side, directly over the planned fusion site. This is a huge advancement, as it places the burden of recovery on the patient’s side and abdomen region and off the back, providing more mobility.

More advantages of this new and exciting treatment is:

  • Less Muscle Damage: Traditional Spinal Surgery requires the surgeon to cut through soft tissues and muscles in order to reach the spine while minimally invasive techniques allows the muscles to be gently pushed out of the way during operation
  • Less Blood Loss: Because the size of the invasions are typically small, minimally invasive procedures usually incur less blood loss than traditional surgeries, and as a result have less need for blood transfusions and lowers the risks of infection.

The field of minimally invasive techniques is still fresh and cutting edge. Here at Virginia Spine Specialists, we are committed to staying relevant and forward thinking in our minimally invasive solutions.