Modern surgical procedures can provide an enormous degree of improvement in the quality of patients’ lives. The benefits of surgery can range from pain reduction to life-saving medical intervention. But in all circumstances, having this treatment option available to patients has proven a remarkable boon. Fusion surgery is one common surgical procedure that has shown considerable success in helping patients dealing with a wide range of ailments. This surgical technique involves using supplementary bone tissue. Which can be obtained from the patient or a donor to gradually fuse two or more bones together using the body’s natural growth processes. For some, fusion surgery can be an effective means of reducing pain in their day-to-day lives. For others, fusion surgery has the potential to dramatically change their lives by correcting genetic or physical deformities. Generally speaking, the benefits of fusion surgery tend to be similar regardless of why the patient may have sought it out. It can help dramatically improve a patient’s quality of life by reducing pain and increasing mobility and flexibility. Indeed, in many instances, athletes pursue fusion surgeries to be able to continue pursuing their careers.
The following are among the most common types of fusion surgery currently practiced:
- Spinal fusion: spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to fuse two or more vertebrae together. Candidates for spinal fusion surgery typically suffer from severe back pain that other treatments have shown limited success in alleviating. Neurological problems that faulty vertebrae or physical deformities such as scoliosis may cause. A spinal fusion surgery involves the placement of a bone graft between the affected vertebrae and fixing the vertebrae in place, typically with wires or screws. Orthotics may also be required during the healing process to ensure successful fusion.
- Neck fusion: neck fusion is similar to spinal fusion in that it involves the fusion of two or more vertebrae. In this case, the cervical vertebrae. Neck fusion is most common for patients after a serious injury to prevent bone fractures or spinal cord damage. It may also be performed for patients with misaligned vertebrae or spinal deformities. The surgical process for neck fusion is similar to that of other spinal fusion surgeries.
- Ankle fusion: ankle fusion is a surgical procedure involving the fusion of two or more bones in the ankle to correct for damaged or missing cartilage. Ankle fusion can involve internal or external fixation devices to join the bones while they heal. Screws and metal plates are typically left in place following an ankle fusion surgery, which can restrict the range of motion in the ankle joint. However, it is common for other joints to compensate for this loss.