How serious is neck fusion surgery?
While uncommon, as with all surgery there are a number of risks and potential complications that can occur as a result of a cervical decompression and fusion surgery, including: Hemorrhage or formation of a wound hematoma. Damage to the carotid or vertebral artery resulting in a stroke or excessive bleeding, even death.
What is the recovery time for neck fusion surgery?
It may take 4 to 6 weeks to get back to your usual activities. How long it takes depends on what kind of surgery you had. Your doctor may advise you to work with a physiotherapist to strengthen the muscles around your neck and back.
Is spinal fusion considered major surgery?
Surgery Overview Spinal fusion is major surgery, usually lasting several hours. There are different methods of spinal fusion. Bone is taken from the pelvic bone or from a bone bank. The bone is used to make a bridge between vertebrae that are next to each other.
What happens when C1 and C2 are fused together?
Here the C1-C2 joint is responsible for half of all of the rotation of the head on the neck, so fusing it dramatically increases force both on the C0-C1 and C2-C3 joints above and below. Meaning that over time, you can expect these levels to break down in most patients.
Is neck fusion a disability?
If you have suffered from a spinal disorder that has resulted in you undergoing spinal fusion, but you are still unable to work, you may be eligible to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
Do you need physical therapy after cervical fusion?
Conventional wisdom holds that starting physical therapy or exercise should wait until about six weeks post-ACDF, when your recovery is well underway. However, the SPINE study suggests it may be more effective to begin a home exercise program (HEP) right away.
Does cervical fusion qualify for disability?
Can you feel the hardware after spinal fusion?
“If the hardware is prominent under the skin the patient may feel a painful bump,” Dr. Lieberman explains. “If the hardware loosens or is irritating the surrounding tissue and nerves, the patient may feel pain or may feel and hear crepitus—a crackling sound or popping sound.”
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