About this topic
A spinal fusion joins two or more bones in the spine together. This surgery permanently joins the bones. Then, there is no movement between them anymore. This is done to lessen pain and irritation to the nerves. ‚
An extreme lateral interbody fusion is a type of minimally-invasive spine surgery. Your surgery is done through your side rather than your front or back. You may need to have surgery to help with long-term pain and disability. This may be caused by: ‚
- Wear and tear of the discs between the spinal bones. This is called degenerative disc disease.
- Narrowing of the canal where the spinal nerves exit the spine. This is spinal stenosis.
- A vertebra that is out of line with the others. This is spondylolisthesis.
- Pressure on the spinal cord. This is called cord compression.
- An abnormal curve in the spine. This is scoliosis.
- Herniated disc
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- How to care for your cut sites
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work, driving, or sex
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
- Wear your brace as ordered by your doctor. If you are allowed to take your brace off for showering, take extra care not to twist or make any sudden trunk movements.
- Keep your legs moving in bed. This will help to prevent blood clots.
- Your doctor will teach you the proper way of moving to protect the spine.
- Ask your doctor when it is okay to start taking drugs such as aspirin, Coumadin ‚ ®, and Plavix ‚ ® again.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- Your doctor may send you to physical therapy.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
- Prevent blood clots
- Help with other problems you may have like trouble sleeping or hard stools
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. You may need to wear the brace to keep your back from moving until your doctor tells you to stop. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Incomplete fusion of the bones
- Blood clots
- Nerve or spinal cord damage
- Damage to the sac covering the nerves (dural tear)
- Problems with bowel or bladder function
- Need for more surgery in the future
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine or not able to pass urine.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Very bad pain
- Weakness or numbness
- Problem with walking, standing, or moving
- Problem passing urine or loss of bowel or bladder control
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever or swelling, redness, or drainage from my wound.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have problems walking, standing, or moving or problems with my bowels or bladder.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00601 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚