Question 1

what are the success rates for spinal fusion diskectomy for smokers?

Accepted Answer

Not as good : Some orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons feel the results in operating on smokers are so poor that they require their patients to quit smoking prior to surgery. Smoking markedly decreases healing rates as well as reducing success rates in general.  There are many reasons for people to quit smoking, and in those facing bone surgery, there are even more urgent reasons.

Question 2

how is a diskectomy different from a spinal fusion? what's the difference between a diskectomy and a spinal fusion? is one better than the other for back pain relief?

Accepted Answer

Discectomy : Discectomy is the removal of disk.  Usually only small amount of disk which has leaked out of the disk space and is pinching a nerve is removed.  Discectomy is done primarily for sciatica leg pain not for back pain.  Recently surgeons have had success with endoscopic discectomy for treatment of back pan caused by degenerative disk disease with a rip in the disk (radial tear). Fusion surgery most of the disk is removed and cage/bone is put into the disk space.  The vertebral bodies are held together with screws and rods.  Over time the upper vertebral body fuse across the disk space to lower vertebral body forming "one big bone".  Fusion surgery is the standard surgery for back pain.  In the future endoscopic discectomy may replace fusion surgery for initial treatment of back pain from degenerative disk disease.  Please see my health guides on endoscopic discectomy.  Good luck!

Question 3

are headaches after undergoing a anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion significant or common?

Accepted Answer

Yes: There are multiple mechanisms by which cervical spine problems produce headaches. Nevertheless, headaches are a common symptom after cervical surgery.

Question 4

i am having terrible headaches after a anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion. related?

Accepted Answer

It may be related: Especially if the headache is positional -worse when up and about and better when lying down suggesting there may be a leak of spinal fluid from a dural tear.  The dura is the outer layer of the spinal cord and this tear is a risk of surgery.  See your surgeon.  Other reasons could include  muscular v medication v another disc issue.

Question 5

i am having terrible headaches after undergoing a anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion? what should i do

Accepted Answer

If upper level: Fusions, find an interventional pain dr and discuss the possibility of trying some interventional techniques from trigger points to greater and third occipital nerve blocks which may help greatly with these headaches. Headaches after these surgeries can also be related to cervical paraspinal spasms, so make sure your muscles are not contributing and consider further physical therapy. Best of luck!

Question 6

doctor suggests an anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion. what is invovled in this?

Accepted Answer

Cervical fusion: Anterio rcervical fusion is usually done for degerative disc disease.Incision anterior neck , removal of the disc materal and bone spurs, placement of some type of bone graft  and then fixation with bone plate fixed to the vertebrae with screws.

Question 7

i am getting surgery on my neck called an anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion?

Accepted Answer

Common procedure: An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with instrumentation is a common procedure to address cervical disc herniations, degenerative spondylosis and occasional to treat instability from trauma.  A fusion will eliminate the motion at the involved joint segments.  Most patients do well.  For very good information and videos, check out spine-health.Com.

Question 8

i had a hemilaminectomy, discectomy, partial facetctomy, foraminotomy, l5--s1 1 having numbness in foot and pain in buttocks. dr recommends spinal fusion another dr recommends spinal lamina.i'm confused.

Accepted Answer

See Neurologist: A medical neurologist can help with accuracy in diagnosis, and is not a surgeon, so he can render a non-biased opinion on the best treatment.  He may also refer you for an academic or university neurosurgical referral.  He may advise non-surgical options, such as prolotherapy or interventional pain management, if felt appropriate.

Question 9

i had a  . discetomy l3 abd l5 2years ago im still in very bad pain  i am  waiting for a spinal fusion . what can u expect and will i b pain free?

Accepted Answer

Low likelihood: If the 1st. surgery fails then chances of subsequent surgery being successful are extremely low. Seek a good pain management physician.

Question 10

what is status post-lower cervical spine fusion and diskectomy?

Accepted Answer

A term meaning that: Someone had a spine surgery involving the neck most typically from anterior or front approach involving  removal of cervical disc and filling the disc space with either bone or a cage & bone as well as possibly some spine instrumentation or hardware in the lower part of the neck or cervical spine.  The disc spaces range from c2-3,  c3-4, c4-5, c5-6, c6-7 & c7-t1. The lower 3 would be one of them.

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Doctor answers about:

Discectomy with spinal fusion

A member asked:

What are the success rates for spinal fusion diskectomy for smokers?

A member asked:

How is a diskectomy different from a spinal fusion? what's the difference between a diskectomy and a spinal fusion? is one better than the other for back pain relief?

A member asked:

Are headaches after undergoing a anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion significant or common?

A member asked:

I am having terrible headaches after a anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion. related?

A member asked:

I am having terrible headaches after undergoing a anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion? what should i do

A member asked:

Doctor suggests an anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion. what is invovled in this?

A member asked:

I am getting surgery on my neck called an anterior cervical discectomy plus spinal fusion?

A member asked:

I had a hemilaminectomy, discectomy, partial facetctomy, foraminotomy, l5--s1 1 having numbness in foot and pain in buttocks. dr recommends spinal fusion another dr recommends spinal lamina.i'm confused.

A member asked:

I had a . discetomy l3 abd l5 2years ago im still in very bad pain i am waiting for a spinal fusion . what can u expect and will i b pain free?

A member asked:

What is status post-lower cervical spine fusion and diskectomy?

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