Make certain that you understand what procedure your surgeon has recommended. The main reason that a fusion is performed is in order to provide stability to the spine in certain situations. A fusion will make two separate bones in your spine grow together so that there is no motion between them. Movement is a natural part of the normal function of your spine, and surgeons will try to prevent this movement in situations where the motion between two segments of the spine may be the source of your pain. This usually occurs when your spine has too much motion, has degenerated to the point where any motion is painful, or a correction of a deformity of the spine is needed.
All spine hardware is designed to stabilize the spine until a bony fusion can form.
Therefore, hardware is only used when a fusion between two or more segments of the spine is a goal of the surgical procedure. The manner in which hardware is used is dependent upon your surgeon's preferences, his or her past experience, and also on the quality and mineral content of your bones. From the patient's perspective, it is more important to understand why hardware is necessary rather than focus on the specific type of hardware that is being used.