Overview

A Lumbar Corpectomy Fusion surgery relieves pain caused when a lumbar vertebrae compresses spinal nerve roots.  It also corrects spinal column deformities.

Incision and Removal

During this procedure, the patient lies on his right side and the surgery is done through the patient’s left side. The surgeon makes an incision to exposes the damaged area of spine.  The surgeon removes the damaged vertebral bone, as well as the discs above and below that bone.  This relieves pain by removing pressure on the nerve roots.

Graft and Hardware Inserted

The surgeon screws bolts into the vertebrae above and below the void to serve as anchors for other parts of the procedure.  Adjustments are made to distance, height, and alignment to correct any lumbar spine deformities.  The surgeon inserts bone graft into the void.  A metal plate is attached with screws to the vertebrae above and below the bone graft.  This keeps the vertebrae in proper position and secures the bone graft in place.

Fusion

During the healing process, living bone from the adjacent vertebrae will integrate with the bone graft, eventually creating one solid bone segment. This process is called bone fusion.  While this fusion will reduce the patient’s low back range of motion, it should also alleviate pain and other troublesome symptoms.