All you need to know about
Spine
As a patient, your number one priority is to completely understand the steps in your surgery.
You are the principal actor of your surgery
Will arthrodesis block my back?
No, it won’t. It will only block the vertebra(e) that are causing your pain.
Vertebral arthrodesis surgery is designed to stop the movement of a painful segment of the spine by fusing together several vertebrae to reduce the pain. It can also be used to correct a deformity or imbalance. It can also be combined with a nerve or spinal cord release procedure to relieve neurological pain and deficits, as in sciatica. Surgical devices can be inserted from the back (posterior), with screws inserted into the vertebrae and connected by rods, or from the front (anterior), with interbody cages, between the vertebrae, replacing the discs.
How do you prepare for the procedure?
It is often surprising how long it takes from he time of your first consultation to the operation. However careful preparation reduces the risk of most early or late complications. An operation is like a competition, an important occasion or a long journey – preparation is essential!
This includes a medical check-up, an appropriate diet and psychological, material and physical preparation, such as learning new movement patterns, breathing exercises, wearing a neck brace or pelvic belt ….
Symptoms that lead to arthrodesis
The main symptom is pain. You are the only one who feels this pain Although pain cannot be measured, there are ways to evaluate it
Neurological risk
The occurrence of complete paralysis due to spinal cord or nerve damage is exceptional. The placement of the implants and the reduction of the deformity are secured by various means of control during the operation, but there is no such thing as zero risk and a complication is always possible.
Post-operative loss of sensitivity or strength in the arms or legs, or loss of sphincter control and/or sensitivity of the perineum called the cauda equina syndrome (incontinence) should be urgently investigated for neurological compression by imaging (CT, MRI) and may require immediate surgical revision. Permanent neurological sequelae are rare.
The pain of sciatica or cruralgia, tingling or burning in the limbs is often treated with medication and does not always require re-operation.
The forgotten back: myth or reality?
Forgetting about the arthrodesis is the main objective, but it is not the reasonable contract between the patient and the surgeon. It depends on many factors, including the functional needs of the patient, the nature of the operation, the initial pathology, the muscle function… To forget, you need a pain-free back that allows you to perform your usual movements with good strength.
Just like a dental implant, after a few months of adjustment, there is a “living with” tolerance period.
