What Does the Spinal Fusion Doctor Baltimore Do?

There are many excellent medical careers for individuals of any age who want to pursue work in that field.  The spinal fusion doctor Baltimore may be either a general surgeon in the area of orthopedics or neurology, or they may specialize in just spine surgery, or even just one or two kinds of spine surgery.  Those who perform spinal fusion Baltimore MD are highly trained in using bone grafting material and medical hardware to stabilize the spines of individuals who are suffering from pain or limited mobility due to any number of conditions.  This kind of doctor often enjoys helping people to feel better and have a better, more active, quality of life.

Who Does Spinal Fusion Help?

There are any number of conditions that can lead patients to seek treatment for an unstable spine.  Most often, these folks are presenting with symptoms like pain or numbness in a certain part of the body.  This is because two or more of the vertebrae, or small bones that are stacked on top of each other to make up the spinal column, are no longer fitting together properly and are subsequently putting pressure on nerve structure that are connected to the spinal cord.

These are some conditions that can cause an unstable spine.

• Of course, a traumatic injury to the spine can cause it to become unstable immediately.  This is really the only case where a procedure for spinal fusion becomes an emergency.  In other cases, it is generally an elective procedure.
• While infections are most common in the soft tissues of the body, they do sometimes settle deep in the bones and cause damage to their integrity.
• Tumors of the spine often cause instability.  Sometimes, this is not apparent until the tumor has been removed and the patient notices symptoms.
• Some specific diseases and genetic conditions cause the breakdown of the vertebrae.  These include ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis.
• Aging is probably the biggest single cause of spinal issues.  Bone diseases like osteoarthritis cause bone tissue and cartilage to dry out and suffer minor damage, adding up to a cumulative effect that is sometimes profound over time and will need intervention from a spinal fusion surgery Baltimore professional.