Failed Spinal Fusions
A spinal fusion is a procedure where two or more vertebrae are joined together by placing a bone graft between them to strengthen the spine against movement. This procedure is used to treat conditions such as scoliosis or degenerative disc disease, but if it fails, it can cause serious problems for the patient’s posture and quality of life.
While the success rate of the surgery is high, there is a small percentage of patients who do not experience the relief they were hoping for.
What are Failed Spinal Fusions?
When a spinal fusion is unsuccessful, it’s called failed fusion. A failed fusion happens when the bones don’t heal together properly after surgery. In most cases, this occurs because there was not enough bone growth during the healing process.
There is not enough support to hold the spine in place. This can happen if your doctor did not use enough hardware or if your body has rejected the hardware.
Another common cause of failed spinal fusion. The hardware may have been put in incorrectly, or it may have worn out over time.