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orthopaedic
Spinal fusion, also called spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis, is a surgery performed by orthopaedic surgeons or neurosurgeons that joins two or more vertebrae. This procedure can be performed at any level in the spine and prevents any movement between the fused vertebrae.
Spinal fusion, also called spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis, is a surgical procedure performed by orthopaedic surgeons or neurosurgeons that permanently joins two or more vertebrae so there is no movement between them. It can be carried out at any level of the spine, cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral. The surgery uses bone grafting, using bone taken from the patient (autograft), from a donor (allograft), or an artificial bone substitute, to encourage the vertebrae to heal together, and hardware such as screws, plates, rods or cages is usually added to hold the bones in place while the graft fuses; placement can be guided by fluoroscopy, navigation systems or robotics. Fusion is most commonly performed to relieve pain and pressure caused by mechanical problems of the vertebrae or on the spinal cord, particularly when a disc wears out (degenerative disc disease). Other conditions treated include spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, disc herniation, spinal fractures, tumours, scoliosis and kyphosis; the greatest benefit appears to be in spondylolisthesis, with weaker evidence for spinal stenosis. Fusions may be approached from the front (anterior), the back (posterior) or both, and posterior lumbar fixation using pedicle screws is the most common technique. Because it eliminates motion at the fused segment, spinal fusion changes the normal mechanics of the spine and places additional stress on the vertebrae above and below, which over the long term can contribute to degeneration of the adjacent segments. Motion-preserving alternatives, such as artificial disc replacement, exist for selected patients.
Specialty-board certifications and facility-level accreditations relevant to this procedure. Verify on the issuer's public register before booking — most issuers publish a searchable directory.
National orthopaedic-surgery board
Issuer Country-specific (e.g. ABOS in US, FRCS Orth in UK, EBOT in Europe)
Specialty-board certification in orthopaedic surgery — minimum credential for joint replacement, spinal surgery, and sports-injury repair.
Verify on the issuer's register →Ongoing research studies registered on ClinicalTrials.gov whose intervention involves spinal fusion. This is a neutral pointer to public research — not an endorsement, not a recruitment drive, and not medical advice. Trial status changes often; confirm eligibility and current status with the study team via each record.
Showing 6 recent ongoing studies. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov — all matching trials (U.S. National Library of Medicine, public domain). Retrieved 2026-08-02.
Average recovery for Spinal Fusion is 0 days. Individual recovery varies — always follow your surgeon’s specific guidance.
Immediate
First 24–48 hours post-procedure. Monitoring, anaesthesia recovery, initial pain management. Most clinics expect you to remain on-site or nearby.
Early recovery
Wound care, swelling or bruising peaks, restricted activity. Typical window for follow-up visits and drain removal if applicable. Travel is usually not advised.
Intermediate recovery
Gradual return to non-strenuous daily activity. Many international patients fly home during this window. Surgeon may require medical clearance for long-haul travel.
Full recovery
Return to full activity, exercise, and work. Final results may still be settling. Final follow-up with local doctor recommended.
Recovery after spinal fusion is highly variable, depending on the type of procedure and the surgeon's preferences; the average hospital stay is around 3.7 days, and some simple cervical fusions can be done as day cases. For a typical lumbar fusion, most people are up and walking the day after surgery, can begin sitting between about one and six weeks, and usually resume driving and sedentary work at around three to six weeks. Heavier lifting is generally avoided until about twelve weeks, and a return to manual work is typically between seven and twelve weeks. Rehabilitation is not mandatory but may improve functional status and low back pain.
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Spinal fusion is surgery that permanently joins two or more vertebrae so there is no movement between them. It uses bone grafting, often with hardware such as screws, plates and rods, to help the vertebrae heal together, and can be done at any level of the spine.
It is most often used for degenerative disc disease and to decompress and stabilise the spine. Other conditions include spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, disc herniation, fractures, tumours, scoliosis and kyphosis, with the clearest benefit in spondylolisthesis.
Bone graft, taken from the patient, from a donor, or an artificial substitute, is packed between the vertebrae to help them heal together. Hardware such as screws, plates, rods or cages is usually added to hold the bones in place while the graft fuses.
By eliminating motion at the fused segment, fusion changes the normal mechanics of the spine and places more stress on the vertebrae above and below. Over the long term this can contribute to degeneration of the adjacent segments.
Recovery is highly variable. The average hospital stay is about 3.7 days. After a lumbar fusion most people walk the day after surgery, resume driving and sedentary work at around three to six weeks, avoid heavier lifting until about twelve weeks, and return to manual work between seven and twelve weeks.
Risk is higher in older people, those with a raised body mass index, other medical problems, poor nutrition or nerve symptoms before surgery. Smokers and people deficient in vitamin D are at higher risk of fusion failure.
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