Spinal fusion surgery versus artificial spinal disc implants

As a Florida spinal injury attorney with over 30 years’ experience helping clients attempt to get what they deserve for spinal injuries they didn’t deserve, I have seen confusion, pain, and stress on very many faces. It gives me so much pleasure to see the difference in those faces once I’ve helped them, that it’s addictive. It is my mission to help spinal injury sufferers smile again, and to keep them smiling.

Hopefully the research that I have done for you about spinal disc surgery below will help give you a little hope, but please do give me a call, so I can try do all I possibly can to turn a little smile into a great big fat grin!

What is the main difference between spinal fusion surgery and artificial disc replacement surgery?

Spinal fusion surgery does not involve an artificial disc being implanted into the spine, as does artificial disc replacement surgery.

The aim of spinal fusion surgery, besides to reduce pain and suffering in the patient due to a herniated disc, is to fuse two or more vertebrae together to make a single solid section of spine.

The vertebrae are fused together with bone. This bone is taken from elsewhere on the patient’s body, or, to reduce the amount of surgery and pain during recovery, from a bone bank. Sometimes synthetic bone is used. Healing is predictably usually good when the patient’s own bone is used for the fusion process. The fusion happens over time, much like the healing of a broken limb.

Studies have mostly shown that post-operative mobility, recovery time period, and reduced intensity of pain, are much better in an artificial disc replacement patient than in a spinal fusion patient.

Spinal fusion surgery has been used for more years than artificial spinal disc implants, and although may still suit many people, total spinal disc replacement surgery is showing more and more success, and happier patients.

Surgeons have found that it is imperative that they position the new disc perfectly in its place between the two vertebrae, where the old disc used to be. Even slightly misplacing the artificial disc can cause problems, and defy the whole object of the surgery.

Mobility and pain

Research indicates that spinal fusion can place stress on the vertebrae above and below the surgery area, and that those vertebrae may not stay as healthy as they would have had there been no injury in the first place, or as they would have if the surgery that had taken place was spinal disc replacement. An artificial disc implant replaces the cushioning taken out, and is thicker than the damaged cushioning (the herniated disc) that was removed. Pain free movement can also obviously be a little wilder if the area that bends is flexible (as with an artificial disc), rather than solid and rigid (two or more fused vertebrae.)

Recovery period

Some patients who have had artificial disc implants, are up and walking around, taking a shower, within just 24 hours, and are often able to go home within just 2 or 3 days. They may have a little pain associated with the surgery they underwent, but they recover much faster than spinal fusion patients who may sometimes take as long as 6 weeks before they feel comfortable walking around. Spinal fusion patients are also often advised to never again do impact sports like running, whereas happy spinal disc replacement patients may even end up doing sports they were no longer able to do due to the back pain that debilitated them.

Contact me via my contact form, or call me, Toll Free, on 888 446 1999, to arrange your first free consultation with me. I won’t charge you for any costs or fees if I am unable to secure money compensation for you.

The purpose of these web articles are not to make comment about an individual's personal choices, but are intended to educate you about the possible paths of outcome of various spinal injuries.

This website is provided as a public service regarding the topic of spinal injury and is not to be relied upon as medical or legal advice. The information supplied is of a general nature only, and is not intended to be relied upon. This information is not represented to be the most up to date or to cover your particular circumstances.

Before deciding to obtain care, treatment, or to determine a diagnosis, please consult with a licensed physician, and concerning your legal rights please consult with a lawyer.

Warning: Do not let any medical or legal concerns wait because of any information you have read on this website.

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