Important Facts about Spinal Fusion Recovery Baltimore

Orthopedic surgeries are some of the safest and most common medical procedures performed in the United States today.  Because there have been so many advances in medical technology and materials science over the past hundred years or so, it is no longer necessary for individuals who have lived into their elder years to suffer from pain or disability due to an unstable spine.  It is usual for individuals who have chosen a spinal fusion surgery to receive a lot of information about the surgical procedure itself, the risks of the procedure, and the types of outcomes and benefits that might eventually be expected.  It is equally important that these patients are given complete information about spinal fusion recovery Baltimore.

Spinal Fusion Recovery:  Basic Facts for Patients

• A significant period of recovery can be expected after this kind of spinal surgery Baltimore.  Most individuals spend three to four days in the hospital.  Many patients go to a rehabilitation facility after discharge from the hospital because they need significant help with activities of daily living like bathing and cooking.  Some are able to return home in the presence of natural or hired supports.
• The surgery is performed in order to stabilize the spine by fusing two or more of the small bones that are stacked on top of one another to form the rigid (but flexible) part of the spine into a single piece of bone.  While some surgical hardware such as rods and screws may be placed in order to provide immediate stability, the bone graft that was placed in the spine will need several weeks to "take".  This means that activities may be somewhat limited during the initial recovery period.
• Those who have had an autograft, meaning that the bone graft material was taken from their own body, usually the femur, need to be mindful of wound care for this secondary surgical site as well as the primary one.  Those who have had an allograft, meaning the placement of bone graft material from a cadaver-donor, may need follow-up testing to make sure they did not contract any blood-borne diseases from the donor tissue.

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