Because a spinal fusion is a complex procedure that requires patient followup for at least 12 months following the surgery, second opinions are a wise idea.
A spinal fusion implies welding one vertebral segment to another by placing down bone graft. The bone graft can be from your own bone (autologous), from a cadaver bone (allograft), or with artificial bone growth proteins. The point of a spinal fusion is to eliminate unnecessary or painful, irritating motion. This can be due to instability of the spine or scoliosis. Spinal fusions can be done with or without hardware (instrumentation). Because a spinal fusion is a complex procedure that requires patient followup for at least 12 months following the surgery, second opinions are a wise idea.