Our spine team is devoted to providing the best care and prompt evaluation to all patients. Regardless of where you are in your care journey, we are here for you, both in person and virtually. To request an appointment, please call 877-777-2134 or fill out an online appointment request form. To refer a patient, please call 1-800-MD-TO-BWH (1-800-638-6294) or see our list of referral options.
If you are suffering from a spine disorder such as spinal stenosis, scoliosis, or spondylolisthesis, spinal fusion may offer relief. At Brigham and Women's Hospital, we perform nearly 1,000 spinal fusions each year—the kind of high-volume experience that research has shown results in better outcomes. Our spine surgeons are highly skilled in the latest minimally invasive techniques for spinal fusion, which can reduce your pain, accelerate your recovery, and minimize scarring.
Spine surgeons at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery’s Spine Service combine experience, expertise, and innovation to offer the most appropriate surgical approaches for treating difficult spine conditions.
Spinal fusion may be performed in the following cases:
Spinal fusion is a surgical treatment that fuses two vertebrae (spinal bones) together to stabilize the spine and stop the movement that is causing pain. It is often performed in combination with other back surgeries (e.g., scoliosis or osteoporosis treatment) to treat a variety of spine conditions occurring in the lower back and neck.
In spinal fusion, the surgeon uses a graft (implanted tissue) such as bone to fuse the bones together permanently. The surgeon may place the bone graft material over the back part of the spine or between the vertebrae, or may use a special cage packed with bone graft material placed between the vertebrae. Rods, screws, or plates are often also used in spinal fusion surgery to keep the vertebrae from moving until the bone grafts are fully healed. Other surgery, such as a discectomy (disc removal) or laminectomy (vertebrae removal), is almost always done before spinal fusion.
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery provides diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system, including the bones and joints of the arms, legs, and spine, and nerves, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Our spine team includes spine surgeons, spine physiatrists, and pain management specialists who accurately diagnose patients and provide a complete range of surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
Brigham and Women's offers our spinal fusion patients:
Brigham and Women’s Hospital has long been committed to not only the care of our patients, but also the many other needs that they and their families have. This philosophy of patient- and family-focused care—involving systems and services that emphasize healing in a comfortable, relaxed environment—is a guiding force behind the care we provide at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Brigham and Women’s is committed to providing all of our patients with the safest, highest-quality, most-satisfying care possible and follow established protocols that have been shown to improve patient outcomes. Our Inpatient Satisfaction Survey, sent to patients’ to assess their total care experience, helps us to monitor what we are doing well and areas for improvement. We pride ourselves in the Quality of Patient Care we provide and how we are measured compared with other hospitals.
Our spine surgeons work closely with our spine physiatrists (also known as physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors), who specialize in non-surgical interventions. They, along with physicians at the Pain Management Center, collaborate to achieve an accurate diagnosis and offer comprehensive non-operative and operative care options.
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