Lumbar Fusion: Dreadful or Incredible?

Patients dread the words: Lumbar Fusion. "You mean you are going to put rods and screws into my back?" They ask. Anyone rightly would be concerned about having this done and many have heard horror stories about this particular procedure gone wrong. However, when used for the right reasons, Lumbar fusions are incredibly powerful at treating otherwise non-treatable conditions. I'm excited to demonstrate how this can be the case in this video.

My patient had an unstable lumbar slipped disc (spondylolisthesis is the medical term). In this condition, every time you try to move the spine kinks off and causes severe pain. There is literally a weak link in the chain that is the spine, and every time you stress it whether with walking or movement it can be very painful. There is no amount of physical therapy, chiropractic, stem cells, PRP injections, traction, massage, acupuncture or steroids that will cure this. It is a mechanical instability in the spine that requires a mechanical fix. I often tell patients, you cant fix a rotten house foundation with a new coat of paint. Same concept applies here.

Enter the lumbar fusion, which stabilizes the problem and helps you get back to normal. It is a major operation which should only be undertaken by properly fellowship trained, experienced spine surgeons. In the right hands it can be positively transformative for patients.

Dr. Katsuura, is a board certified spine surgeon practicing in Marin, Novato, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco who treats a wide range of back and neck conditions in his spinal clinic. He is an expert in minimally invasive, reconstructive and motion preserving spinal procedures.