Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that involves permanently joining vertebrae together and fusing them into a single bone. It is usually recommended when your surgeon can pinpoint the source of your back pain. By eliminating the motion in the spine that causes pain, this procedure relieves symptoms of many back conditions including spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disk disease, and others.
All spinal fusions use some type of bone material, called a bone graft, to stimulate bone healing and help fill in the space left after a disk is removed. The bone is usually taken from your hip area, but can be taken from a donor as well. After the bone graft is placed, your neurosurgeon will use metal screws, plates, and rods to stabilize the spine and promote healing of the fusion.