Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Wednesday, October 08, 2008 jillone725 asks

Q: are they suppose to put screws in your back with a fusion

ARE THEY SUPPOSE TO PUT SCREWS IN YOUR BACK WITH A FUSION?  WITH EVERY SURGERY THAT I READ ABOUT I SAW THAT THEY PUT SCREW/HARDWARE IN THE PERSONS BACK.  MY FUSIONS, I HAVE HAD 2 IN MY LOWER BACK DO NOT HAVE SCREWS OR ANY HARDWARE FOR THAT MATTER.  I AM CONFUSED.  YOUR ANSWER IS MUCH APPRECIATED.  THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE.

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Answers (2)
10/ 8/08 10:20pm

I don't know a great deal about spinal fusion surgery, but from what I understand, there are at least two different approaches – one which uses screws and rods and one which does not. 

 

Here is an article that addresses the two main approaches to spinal fusion:

 

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/spinal-fusion/posterolateral-vs-interbody-fusion-two-main-approaches-spinal-fusion

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10/ 8/08 11:02pm

My sister and had fusion surgery 1 week apart, the same doctor did both of our surgeries. He put plates (hardware) in me, but not my sister, when we went back to the doctor for a follow up, we asked him why one and not the other...He said, she had 1 herniated disc, I had 3. My sister has 3 herniated disc, the same disc I have, but hers "popped" at different times. Mine "popped" 3 at one time. So going with his reasoning, it is according to if it is more than 1 disc that is herinated. Hope this helps some...

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