Stiffening of the spine - that sounds pretty final. It is, but in some cases, unfortunately, inevitable. Moreover, it even leads to relief of discomfort, because pain usually disappears.
When can such spinal fusion be the last, redemptive resort?
-> for instability of the spine
-> after fractures of the vertebral bodies
-> for wear due to scoliosis
-> for vertebral joint arthrosis
-> for degeneration and bony outgrowths of the intervertebral discs
-> in case of spinal stenosis, which leads to numbness in the legs.
However, as already indicated, spinal fusion is always a last resort and attempts are made to control the symptoms non-operatively beforehand.
But what happens when the doctor and patient decide on surgery?
Roughly speaking, so-called fixators are attached to two or more vertebral bodies during surgery. These are screws and rods that connect the vertebral bodies together and thus prevent movement. In addition, care is taken to ensure that the small vertebral joints fuse together.