When you suffer a car crash, you will likely also experience moderate to severe injuries, especially of the head, neck and back. These areas are among the most vulnerable on your body and thus receive a majority of the damage.
In particular, back injuries often end up painful and debilitating, with numerous surgeries commonly used to help victims regain mobility and avoid paralysis or further damage to the spinal cord or nerves. Spinal fusions serve as one of these potential surgeries.
What is the purpose of spinal fusion?
According to Mayo Clinic, spinal fusions eliminate motion between vertebrae of the spine through surgical connections. It mimics the natural process a bone goes through when healing and a surgeon facilitates it by placing bone-like material or actual bone between two vertebrae. Metal plates, rods and screws may also end up used to increase stabilization, allowing the vertebrae to hold in place while healing.
This type of surgery requires general anesthesia, and the technique will depend on the location and severity of the fracture experienced. The first incision will take place at either the neck, along the spine or at the throat or abdomen, depending on the area that needs a spinal fusion.
Preparing for a bone graft
The bone graft material may sometimes come from a bone bank, or may sometimes come from your own pelvis, as there is a much lower chance of the body rejecting its own material. The use of bone or bone-like material in a spinal fusion promotes growth and speeds up a healing process that could otherwise take months.
But it is still an invasive and difficult surgery, which will cost you financially and may also leave you with emotional turmoil. Compensation can help cover some of the damages, so you may wish to consider seeking it.
