Spinal Fusion for Residents of Freehold & Monroe Township, NJ
Spinal fusion is a surgery to permanently connect two or more vertebrae in your spine, eliminating motion between them. This procedure is typically an effective treatment for fractures, deformities, or instability in the spine, and our board-certified surgeons at Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute can perform it for residents of Freehold and Monroe Township, New Jersey.
Candidates for Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is essentially a “welding” process, with the basic idea being to fuse together the vertebrae so they heal into one solid bone. Not only does it eliminate motion between vertebrae, but it also prevents the stretching of nerves and surrounding ligaments and muscles. It is recommended in cases when motion is the source of the pain, the theory being that if painful vertebrae don’t move, they can’t hurt. Some conditions that can lead to painful movements in the spine include:
- Herniated disk — Spinal fusion is often used to stabilize the spine after a damaged disk has been removed.
- Spinal instability — Your spine may become unstable if there is abnormal motion between two vertebrae, which is a common side effect of severe arthritis in the spine, tumors, and certain cancers that weaken bone.
- Deformities in the spine — Spinal fusion can help fix spinal deformities, such as a sideways curvature in the spine (scoliosis).
While spinal fusion will take away some spinal flexibility, most procedures only involve a small segment of the spine, so they do not limit motion drastically. In fact, most patients do not notice a decrease in range of motion.
Fellowship-Trained Surgeons
At AOSMI, we have a team of fellowship-trained surgeons who are specialized in performing spinal fusions for those suffering from unremitting back pain. If you are interested in finding out if a spinal fusion is the right surgical option for you, contact us today. We are happy to treat patients at our state-of-the-art facilities in Freehold and Monroe Township, NJ.
