According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) between 75 and 85 percent of all Americans will suffer from low back pain at some point in their lives. However lumbar fusion is proving to be highly effective for the 10 percent of patients who require surgery.
When non-surgical treatment options that include –
– physical therapy,
– weight reduction,
– steroid injections (epidural steroids),
– non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications,
– rehabilitation, and
– limited activity
prove unsuccessful, surgical options are then considered.
Lumbar fusion a procedure performed between the bodies of the vertebral bones and across the diseased disc space may be used to treat spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and recurring herniated disc.
It is sometimes performed in combination with other spinal surgery procedures.