Treatment
Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to correct problems with the bones in the spine (vertebrae). It is essentially a welding process. The basic idea is to fuse together the painful vertebrae so that they heal into a single, solid bone.
Spinal fusion is a treatment option when motion is the source of the pain — the theory being that if the painful vertebrae do not move, they should not hurt.
There are several different types of spinal fusion surgery; your doctor will talk with you about which one is appropriate in your situation. This article focuses on posterolateral lumbar fusion — the most common type of spinal fusion — and discusses only the surgical component of the procedure.
For a complete overview of spinal fusion, including approaches, bone grafting, complications, and rehabilitation, please go to Spinal Fusion.
Posterolateral Fusion
In a posterior (from the rear) approach to lumbar fusion, the surgeon makes an incision down the middle of the lower back. To see the vertebrae, the surgeon will separate the muscles that surround the spine.
In many cases, the surgeon will remove part or all of the lamina (the part of the vertebra that forms the arch and covers up the spinal canal) and any other structures, such as a herniated disk, that may be putting pressure on the spinal nerves.
- The procedure to remove the lamina is called a decompression, or laminectomy.
- The procedure to remove a herniated disk (also known as a bulging disk) is called a diskectomy.
- Laminectomy and diskectomy are often performed together.
After the decompression, the surgeon will place graft material along the sides of the vertebrae to stimulate bone growth. The bone graft material is typically placed over the transverse processes of the vertebrae — small bony structures that stick out of the right and left sides of each vertebra (see illustration below). This is called a posterolateral fusion.
Learn more: Bone Grafts in Spine Surgery
Titanium screws and rods are often used to provide immediate stability to the spine until a solid fusion has been achieved. These screws typically are not removed even after the bone graft has healed.
Last Reviewed
May 2022
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AAOS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products, or physicians referenced herein. This information is provided as an educational service and is not intended to serve as medical advice. Anyone seeking specific orthopaedic advice or assistance should consult his or her orthopaedic surgeon, or locate one in your area through the AAOS Find an Orthopaedist program on this website.