The purpose of a spinal fusion is to eliminate motion between adjacent vertebral segments. Obviously, the result of this process is the loss of spinal flexibility for the patient. However, the extent of the loss is highly dependent upon the number of vertebral levels fused and the location of the fusion along the spinal axis.
Most fusions span relatively small spinal segments and therefore limit motion minimally.
Many patients actually feel more flexible because their motion is more pain free. Fusion can be achieved in many different ways. However, no matter what specific procedure the surgeon chooses to perform, all fusion operations have certain features in common. Fusion surgery can be performed either through an incision on the back on the posterior portion of the spine or on the anterior portion of the vertebrae through an incision in the neck, chest or flank. The type of procedure chosen is at the surgeon's discretion and depends on the particular pathology being treated.