Lumbar Fusion

For lumbar pain, posterior lumbar decompression and fusion can help.

ACDF lumbar laminectomy lumbar discectomy lumbar fusion posterior cervical fusion

What Is Posterior Lumbar Decompression and Fusion?

Posterior lumbar decompression and fusion (PLDF) is a surgical procedure that can reduce pain and pressure on the spinal cord as well as the nerves in the lower back.

The lumbar spine makes up the lower back, with the spine curving inward toward the abdomen. Five vertebrae, the L1–L5, make up this section. Of these, the L-4 and L-5 are most prone to degradation because they bear the most weight.

PLDF can help relieve chronic and debilitating pain in the lower back.

Some symptoms that could mean you need a posterior lumbar decompression and fusion procedure include:

Numbness
Weakness
Loss of bladder or bowel control

There can be many causes of lumbar pain, and lumbar spinal stenosis is one of them. Usually, spondylolisthesis (slippage of spinal discs) causes lumbar spinal stenosis, but degenerative disc disease can also be an issue. Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal, which can result in discs and vertebrae pressing on nerves.

Degenerative disc disease happens when the discs that cushion your vertebrae begin to break down. The gel-like contents of the discs can leak out and irritate nearby nerves. It can also cause the bones to start rubbing together, leading to bone spurs. The bone spurs can compress the spinal canal.

The PLDF Approach and Procedure

For this procedure, Dr. Khamsi makes an incision in your back’s midline and moves the muscles aside to gain access to the lumbar region. He can then remove part of the lamina, which is part of the vertebrae that protects the spinal cord, and some ligaments to make more room for nerves and the cord itself.

This procedure can make the spine less stable, so fusion is necessary. Dr. Khamsi uses bone grafts for fusion. These can come from your own body, which he obtains from your hip. Although this means dealing with hip surgery, it is one of the best options because you will get bone cells that can speed up the fusion process.

Bone grafts can also come from a donor, or they can be made of artificial material.

Spinal Stenosis

Your spinal nerves travel through your spinal canal and exit through openings we call "foramen." If any of these spaces are too narrow, your nerves become compressed. We say you have "spinal stenosis." It's a problem that most often happens in the neck and lower back.

Spondylolisthesis

This condition occurs when a lumbar vertebra slips out of place. It slides forward, distorting the shape of your spine. This may compress the nerves in the spinal canal. The nerves that exit the foramen (open spaces on the sides of your vertebrae) may also be compressed. These compressed nerves can cause pain and other problems.

ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

ALIF is generally used to treat back or leg pain caused by degenerative disc disease. The surgeon will stabilize the spine by fusing vertebrae together with bone graft material.

TLIF: Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

TLIF is generally used to treat back or leg pain caused by degenerative disc disease. The surgeon will stabilize the spine by fusing vertebrae together with bone graft material.

Posterior Lumbar Decompression & Fusion Recovery

Dr. Khamsi places the bone graft between the affected vertebrae, stabilizing it with plates and rods so that the two vertebrae can fuse into one bone over time. After the surgery, you will likely have to wear a brace for a few days.

If you have lumbar pain, contact Dr. Khamsi in Riverside, California for an appointment.

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