Spinal fusion is a treatment used for a variety of back problems. Two or more spine bones (vertebrae) are generally fused together using bone graft. The graft eventually heals to the bone above and below, forming one solid section of bone. One method of spine fusion involves using screws to hold the spine steady while the graft heals.
Fusion may be used for spine problems arising from cancer to the bone, trauma, disc disease, or scoliosis (a sideways curve of the spine). In these cases, the fusion is used to restrict extra movement in the problem area of the spine.
Successful fusion is thought to depend on the disease present and the number of vertebrae that need to be fused together. The rate of good fusion differs from disease to disease.
Doctors at Emory University in Georgia studied success rates for spinal fusion. They observed 457 patients during a seven-year period, one of the largest series of patients studied in one center. This gave the doctors a baseline to compare against newer methods in the future.
In all cases, screws were used to help with the fusion. The screws were placed in the pedicles of the vertebra. The pedicle bones connect to the back of each vertebrae, giving bony protection to the nerve tissues inside the spinal canal.
Pedicle screws have been used for spinal fusion since the 1980s. This study with its large number of patients and variety of diseases gives doctors a benchmark of data. As new ways to fuse the spine are found, doctors can check the results against today’s standard method using pedicle screws.