One of the main goals of any surgical procedure on the skeletal system is to stop the pain caused by joints that have worn out over time, also called degenerative joints. One of the most reliable ways to reduce pain from degeneration is to fuse the joints together. A fusion is an operation where two bones, usually separated by a joint, are allowed to grow together into one bone. The medical term for this type of fusion procedure is arthrodesis.
Spinal fusion has been used successfully for over forty years to address a variety of conditions of the lumbar spine, including degenerative disc disease. Over the past decade, there have been dramatic improvements in the way that spinal fusion operations are performed. One major improvement has been the development of new and innovative fixation devices to promote successful fusion of the vertabrae in the affected area and maximum stability for the patient post surgery.
During a spinal fusion, a bone graft is used to join two or more vertebrae. The vertebrae grow together during the healing process, creating a solid piece of bone. The bone graft helps the vertebrae heal together, or fuse. The bone graft may be taken from the hip at the time of surgery. However, more and more surgeons are utilizing bone graft replacement technologies, such as HEALOS® Bone Graft Replacement, to avoid a second surgical site.
Many bone grafting technologies are comprised of allograft or donor tissue from licensed tissue banks. Other technologies are manufactured of synthetic materials that mirror the characteristics found in human bone. The use of allograft or synthetic materials in spine fusion surgery has been shown to promote bone formation, effective fusion of the vertabrae, cell proliferation and faster healing times without the need for a second procedure to harvest bone from the hip area.
Ask your doctor for more information on Bone Grafting Technologies and Lumbar Spinal Fusion for the treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease.
