When intervertebral discs have been damaged or deteriorated to the point of causing pain or decreasing mobility, medical intervention is often needed. One of our treatment options for severe disc damage that does not respond to conservative treatments is spine fusion. This operation usually involves removing the damaged disc and insertion of a bone graft to fuse the two vertebrae together and possibly a spacer to keep the vertebrae at the same height. There are several different types of spine fusions that are used to treat a variety of spine, disc and vertebrae disorders in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine.

At Atlanta Spine, we offer minimally invasive spine fusions that can alleviate many types of pain and lack of mobility. These surgeries use a small incision to access the affected area, causing less damage to the surrounding tissues, helping reduce surgical risks and speed in the recovery process. Cervical spine fusions are common treatments for the relief of severe neck, shoulder, arm and jaw pain due to damaged cervical discs.

Anterior/Posterior Lumbar Fusions

The lumbar discs are put under a large amount of stress, managing the majority of weight and workload of the spine. When these discs become damaged from degenerative disease or injury, they can cause severe pain and result in reduced mobility. When conservative back treatments are unsuccessful, a lumbar fusion may be recommended to remove the damaged disc or discs, fusing two vertebrae or more together for stability.

Lumbar fusions can be performed one of two ways: anterior or posterior. They can also be performed as an anterior/posterior fusion, a combination of both types. An anterior fusion is performed from the front of the body, while the posterior fusion is entered from the back. In a dual anterior/posterior lumbar fusion, both sides of the spine are fused, offering an encompassing stability for the spine.

If you have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease or a herniated disc, yet conservative or non-surgical treatments are not giving you the results you need, a spine fusion may be an option. Contact Atlanta Spine today to schedule your consultation with our spine surgeon Dr. Bhatti to learn more about spine fusion and all our treatment options.