Lumbar spinal fusion is a procedure that is designed to limit painful movement in a specific area of your spinal column. The procedure has a pretty high success rate, as research has shown that anywhere from 65-95 percent of lumbar spinal fusion procedures are deemed a success, but the success of your operation isn’t just up to chance. There are a number of factors before, during and after your procedure that play a role in determining the success or failure of your surgery and recovery. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the factors that influence the success of your lumbar fusion procedure.
Lumbar Fusion Success Rate
Dr. Jackman has performed countless lumbar fusion procedures over the course of his career, and he understands all of the factors that play a role in the success of the operation. Your decisions before and after the procedure, and some factors during the operation itself, all have a hand in ensuring that your procedure goes as expected. Here’s a look at the factors that you’ll want to be aware of as you work to increase your likelihood of a successful operation.
Before Surgery
The success of your procedure isn’t just dependent on the skill of your provider during the operation. A number of other factors are also at play, and many of these begin prior to your surgery. Factors you’ll want to consider before you head off for lumbar fusion include:
- Correct Diagnosis – You’ll want to ensure that you connect with a spine specialist who can confirm your diagnosis and that surgery is the right path forward.
- Surgeon Choice – You’ll need to move forward with a surgeon that has the knowledge and skill to perform the operation. Find a provider that you have confidence in.
- Your Health – Your health and any underlying health conditions can affect the success rate of your surgery. While conditions like obesity or diabetes will not prevent you from pursuing the operation, it can increase your likelihood of complications, and your surgeon will want to ensure they understand your full medical history before moving forward with the operation. Work to become a healthier version of yourself prior to surgery.
- Root Cause – Your root cause for pursuing lumbar fusion may also affect what is deemed a successful operation. Fusing the area after a spinal tumor is removed may prove more challenging than a fusion that is being performed because of natural disc degeneration.
During Surgery
There are also some factors that influence the success of your operation during the procedure itself. These factors are largely out of your hands, but remember that you still have a choice in who you decide to choose to perform your operation. Those factors include:
- Number of levels fused
- Type of hardware being used
- Length of surgical procedure
In general, longer and more complex procedures have lower success rates than more standard fusions.
After Surgery
While the surgeon’s job may be done once you’re whisked off to a recovery room, your work is just beginning. How you proceed after surgery plays a significant role in the success of your surgery and recovery. Relevant factors include:
- Work Effort – You are going to need to put in significant physical effort over the course of your rehabilitation program. You’ll need to push yourself physically and partake in rehabilitation exercises in order to restore the most function possible. Poor effort during rehab oftentimes leads to poor overall outcomes.
- Compliance – You’ll also need to comply with post-op instructions from your provider. If they tell you not to drive or not to return to work for a set period of time, follow their advice. Failing to comply with post-op recovery instructions can lead to a setback that jeopardizes the integrity of your surgery.
As you can see, there are a number of different factors from pre-surgery to post-op that will play a role in the success or failure of your lumbar fusion, so do what you can to positively influence the controllable factors. Moreover, make sure you choose a surgeon like Dr. Jackman who can provide the technical skill for the procedure and will be with you every step of the way during your recovery. For more information about lumbar fusion, or for help with a different spine issue, reach out to Dr. Jackman and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
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