Laminectomy requires general anesthesia and a two or three day hospital stay. Recuperation takes up to six weeks. Although it often brings immediate relief from pain, there are small risks to the operation and it is not always successful. Some recurrence of back pain and sciatica occurs in half to two-thirds of postoperative patients. In cases where abnormal positioning or vertebrae movement puts pressure on the nerves, such as spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis, surgeons may fuse vertebrae together.
Fusion employs a bone graft or some other device to join the vertebrae together.
One medical device called the BAK Interbody Fusion System uses a tiny hollow metal cage, which is implanted into the disc space. Complications and Outlook Complications of spinal surgery can include nerve and muscle damage, infection, scarring, and the need for reoperation. It may take four to six weeks for full recovery. Gentle exercise may be recommended. It is usually warranted only for sciatica caused by a herniated disc that is not relieved by other standard treatments.