Reasons for Posterior Thoracic Fusions

Spinal fusion is a type of spinal surgery that involves fusing two or more vertebrae together. The spine is divided into three regions: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. The cervical region is the upper back and the lumbar region is the lower back. This means that a thoracic spinal fusion is performed on the middle of the back. All types of spinal fusion surgeries are performed because the spine has become unstable. They are intended to prevent further complications, such as injuries to the spinal cord and nerves.

Patients might undergo posterior thoracic fusions because of osteoporosis of the spine. Osteoporosis weakens the bones and can contribute to compression fractures. These fractures can destabilize the spine and require the patient to undergo thoracic spinal fusion. Other patients might need to have this spine surgery to treat injury to the spine or to prevent the abnormal curves caused by scoliosis from getting worse.

Spine Institute of Nevada is a leading provider of minimally invasive surgery in Las Vegas, including posterior thoracic fusions to treat unstable spines. Call 702-239-3787 to schedule a consultation with our board-certified spine surgeon.