Question 1

how long does the anterior posterior spinal fusion take?

Accepted Answer

4hours: Varies quite a bit on surgeon and team experience how many levels use vascular surgeon for anterior exposurewill speed things up alot.

Question 2

is there any pain involved in  an anterior posterior spinal fusion?

Accepted Answer

Yes: In any major spinal operation, pain is expected during the initial week or two after the surgery. There is no difference in having pain with an anterior/posterior (360 degree) fusion.  The major difference is that there are two major incisions on the body, so there could be abdominal discomfort in addition to requiring medications for pain.

Question 3

which is better, minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion or open posterior cervical fusion? does one have better outcomes? will either/both help with foraminal stenosis?

Accepted Answer

: Are you sure you need cervical fusion for foraminal stenosis? Usually the surgical approach for foraminal stenosis is foraminal decompression after conservative therapy has failed. If that is the case, both techniques can achieve the same result under experienced hands. Take care.

Question 4

i had posterior cervical fusion, c6-c7, four months ago. is it normal for the tops of the screws to be visible through skin, protruding bulges?

Accepted Answer

No: That would be unusual unless you were an extremely thin person or you had other previous surgeries in that area.

Question 5

i have a osteophytes on  c5 & c6, occluding right neural foramen 50 %. neurosurgeon suggest cervical fusion. can it be done posterior?

Accepted Answer

Yes but: More painful and leaves a degenerative motion segment behind to hurt later and collapse further the post vs anterior study had been done anterior had better outcomes and leaves post neck muscles unaffected they are both good options for relief of arm pain, let surgeon pick. The acdf also can restore spacing and vertical height to the foramen the spurs are in front of the nerve root mostly.

Question 6

posterior cervical fusion which resulted in misplaced screw abutting vetebral artery. surgeons recommend not to remove, may cause bleeding.

Accepted Answer

Abutting Vert: Abutting or clean through? A screw that is misplaced into the transverse foramen may simply be in proximity and not causing any problem. If at c7, there is no artery within the foramen transversarium, so only at risk for a venous issue. If you have no neurologic issues, nothing to do. Understand, that if vertebral arterial bleeding is encountered intraoperative, a screw left in place is treatment.

Question 7

i had neck injury fractured c1, c2 and occipital in a roll over car accident not wearing seat belt in august 2021 and had posterior cervical fusion on 12/31/21 and now have more pain than prior to the fusion. do they ever remove the hardware?

Accepted Answer

: Only if the fracture is stable.  Go back to the original surgeon and get some images to ensure other levels are not involved.  The hardware can come out if the fracture is healed and doesn’t need to be stabilized any longer.  Good luck and feel better.

Question 8

i had a t2-l1 posterior spinal fusion 5 years ago. i having been experiencing pain in my cervical and lumbar spine. is this due to degeneration?

Accepted Answer

T2-L1?: That would be a very large fusion.  But if it were t12-l1, then, yes you may develop pain in other areas of the spine.  The fused area is stiff and neighboring areas have to work a little harder.

Question 9

on going pain after 1 year status post posterior cervical fusion at c5 and c6 levels. headaches, right arm tingling. no decompression was done prior to procedure. inflammation found at back of skull ?

Accepted Answer

Pain after PSIF neck: Not normal. Could be related to screw against nerve, pseudoarthrosis, incomplete decompression, nerve damage that didn't heal, missed or new problem. I would start with ct to see if bone healed and decompressed, and find out exactly where screws are. If negative, MRI to identify new or different problem. Get a diagnosis and it will help treatment.

Question 10

on cervical mri what does minimal csf present within thecal sac mean? narrowing anterior & posterior csf spaces.

Accepted Answer

Space is tight: Sounds like this is concerning to you. It means that space is tight around the spinal cord. This usually isn't an emergency. You should discuss this finding with the doctor who ordered the test, who can put those findings into the context of your history and exam and can discuss next steps with you. Good luck!

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Doctor answers about:

Anterior vs posterior cervical fusion

A member asked:

How long does the anterior posterior spinal fusion take?

A member asked:

Is there any pain involved in an anterior posterior spinal fusion?

A member asked:

Which is better, minimally invasive posterior cervical fusion or open posterior cervical fusion? does one have better outcomes? will either/both help with foraminal stenosis?

A member asked:

I had posterior cervical fusion, c6-c7, four months ago. is it normal for the tops of the screws to be visible through skin, protruding bulges?

A member asked:

I have a osteophytes on c5 & c6, occluding right neural foramen 50 %. neurosurgeon suggest cervical fusion. can it be done posterior?

A member asked:

Posterior cervical fusion which resulted in misplaced screw abutting vetebral artery. surgeons recommend not to remove, may cause bleeding.

A member asked:

I had neck injury fractured c1, c2 and occipital in a roll over car accident not wearing seat belt in august 2021 and had posterior cervical fusion on 12/31/21 and now have more pain than prior to the fusion. do they ever remove the hardware?

A member asked:

I had a t2-l1 posterior spinal fusion 5 years ago. i having been experiencing pain in my cervical and lumbar spine. is this due to degeneration?

A member asked:

On going pain after 1 year status post posterior cervical fusion at c5 and c6 levels. headaches, right arm tingling. no decompression was done prior to procedure. inflammation found at back of skull ?

A member asked:

On cervical mri what does minimal csf present within thecal sac mean? narrowing anterior & posterior csf spaces.

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