Fusion is a surgical procedure used to stabilize a segment of the vertebral column by "bracing" two or more vertebrae into a single unit. The bracing may be accomplished by bone grafts or by using surgical screws and rods. Bone grafts and plugs may be obtained either from the bone bank, or harvested from the patient's hip bone. Sometimes the fusion can involve using internal fixation or placement of metal plates. This surgery also can be performed for tumors of the bone, tumors of the spinal cord, and at times, more than one disc or an entire cervical vertebral body can be removed.  

• Posterior Cervical Fusion -- Sometimes a fusion needs to be performed to stabilize one or several unstable segments of the spine. This can be the result of a degenerative process or an acute trauma. If the pathology or the compression is on the back or posterior surface of the spinal cord, then a posterior approach is sometime required.

 
• Anterior fusion and Posterior Decompression and Fusion -- Sometimes both the anterior and posterior approaches are required at the same operative setting or one to several days apart. An anterior approach passes to the side of the esophagus, or swallowing tube, and beside the trachea or breathing tube, typically on the right side. This is usually performed for severe traumas, severe instability, and misalignments and to avoid the need for an external stabilization apparatus like a halo jacket and vest.

 
• Lumbar Fusion -- This procedure may be performed in combination with decompression or without decompression, depending on the patient's individual problem. This can be performed with bone material harvested from the patient's pelvis, or bone taken from the bone bank. Often, the fixation is accomplished with bone screws and rods. Sometimes implantation of a bone growth stimulator is required for patients who smoke. This surgery may require the expertise of both a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic surgeon trained in spinal procedures.