8 Conditions Treatable with Spinal Fusion

What’s causing your back pain? That’s the question you must answer before knowing whether spinal fusion surgery can help. Not every spinal condition calls for this treatment, but if you have one of several back problems that meet the criteria, spinal fusion may be the pain-relieving solution you’ve been searching for. 

At McNulty Spine in Las Vegas, Dr. Patrick McNulty, our double board-certified and award-winning orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist, offers expert spinal fusion surgery to alleviate pain and restore stability.

Here, Dr. McNulty explains some of the severe spinal conditions he treats with spinal fusion surgery.

Understanding spinal fusion 

When Dr. McNulty performs spinal fusion, he permanently connects two or more vertebrae in your spine. This procedure reduces pain, stabilizes your spine, and often corrects issues like deformities by eliminating motion between the fused vertebrae. 

Dr. McNulty uses cutting-edge techniques, including minimally invasive options, to customize the procedure to your unique anatomy and condition and ensure the least amount of healthy tissue damage possible. 

Your condition may require fusing specific areas of the spine, such as the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), or lumbar (lower back) sections. However, depending on your needs, Dr. McNulty can also perform advanced fusions that extend to the pelvis or combine the head and neck (occipitocervical fusion). 

Conditions treated with spinal fusion 

Spinal fusion is an effective solution for a range of spinal conditions that don’t respond to conservative treatments like physical therapy or medications. Conditions Dr. McNulty commonly treats include: 

1. Degenerative disc disease: wear-and-tear damage to spinal discs that leads to chronic pain and limited mobility. 
2. Scoliosis and kyphosis: abnormal spinal curvatures, either side-to-side (scoliosis) or forward (kyphosis), often treatable with fusion to correct alignment. 
3. Spinal stenosis: a narrowing of the spinal canal that presses on nerves, causing pain, tingling, or numbness. 
4. Spondylolisthesis: a condition where one vertebra slips out of place over the one below it, creating instability and nerve pain. 
5. Fractures: traumatic or osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures that can compromise spinal stability. 
6. Herniated discs: displaced disc material that puts pressure on your spinal nerves and causes severe pain. 
7. Spinal tumors or infections: conditions that weaken or compromise your spine’s integrity. 
8. Loss of lordosis: a flattening or reversal of the natural curve in the neck or lower back, often resulting in stiffness, pain, and reduced mobility. 

If you have persistent back or neck pain, along with symptoms like leg or arm weakness, tingling, or numbness, a spinal condition may be the underlying cause. Dr. McNulty can identify and treat the root issue and provide advanced care, including spinal fusion, for long-term relief. 

How spinal fusion works 

When Dr. McNulty performs spinal fusion, he secures your vertebrae using bone grafting materials, screws, and rods. Over time, the grafting materials encourage the vertebrae to heal into a single, solid bone. 

Dr. McNulty uses advanced tools and techniques to ensure precision — for example, he often uses synthetic materials and your own stem cells to enhance the success of the fusion while minimizing complications. 

Some of the techniques he uses include: 

1. Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF): accessing your spine from the front through your abdomen for lumbar fusion. 
2. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF): a safer method of reaching your spine from the back through a single opening. 
3. Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF): accessing your spine from your side for precise results. 
4. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF): an effective approach to treating painful or degenerative cervical spine conditions. 
5. Facet fusion: a procedure to stabilize your spine by fusing the small joints located between vertebrae. 
6. Laminectomy with fusion: removing a portion of your vertebra (lamina) combined with spinal fusion to relieve pressure on nerves and promote stability. 
7. Lumbar interbody fusion: a surgical method to fuse two or more lumbar vertebrae by placing a bone graft or spacer between them, restoring alignment and stability. 
8. Pedicle screw fixation: a modern technique using screws and rods to stabilize your spine, often used in conjunction with spinal fusion. 
9. Occipitocervical fixation: a specialized procedure to stabilize the junction between your skull and cervical spine, often used in cases of trauma or severe instability. 

These minimally invasive techniques often mean you’ll have small incisions, less muscle damage, and a shorter recovery time. 

If you’re living with severe back or neck pain and nothing seems to work, call McNulty Spine in Las Vegas, Nevada, or schedule an appointment online to find out if you’re a good candidate for spinal fusion.