Introduction
Physical Therapy in Hazle Township for Lower Back
Welcome to FYZICAL Hazleton's patient resource about Posterior Lumbar Fusion.
A posterior lumbar fusion is the most common type of fusion surgery for the low back. A fusion is a surgical procedure that joins two or more bones (in this case vertebrae) together into one solid bone. The procedure is called a posterior fusion because the surgeon works on the back, or posterior, of the spine.
Posterior fusion procedures in the lumbar spine are used to treat spine instability, severe degenerative disc disease, and fractures in the lumbar spine.
Other procedures are usually done along with the spinal fusion to take the pressure off nearby nerves. They may include removing bone spurs and injured portions of one or more discs in the low back. Most surgeons also apply metal screws and rods, called instrumentation, to hold the bones securely while they fuse.
This article will help you understand:
- what surgeons hope to achieve
- what happens during the procedure
- what rehabilitation is like after surgery