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Understanding surgeon speak and the different approaches to fusion
Spine Health | Last Active: Dec 19, 2025 | Replies (47)Comment receiving replies
annie1, the difference in these techniques is about where the surgeon accesses the disc. You might want to consider artificial discs, if you haven't.
https://www.spine.md/artificial-disc-replacement/disc-replacement-vs-spinal-fusion/
transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion https://www.youtube.com/watch
anterior lumbar interbody fusion https://www.youtube.com/watch
extreme lateral interbody fusion https://www.youtube.com/watch
Replies to "annie1, the difference in these techniques is about where the surgeon accesses the disc. You might..."
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@gently
None of the surgeons I have spoken with have offered artificial disc replacement. They only offer fusion. Today I saw the head of surgery at Mount Sinai in New York and he said he would do a posterior incision only. I don't know if that would include any kind of artificial disc that I can ask him. The other thing that bothers me is that when I asked him about any complications in any of his past surgeries he said he only had one infection years ago and no other complications. I find that hard to believe and I couldn't think of anything to say to that. He's a very gentle, likable man with excellent credentials but do you think I should keep asking him are you sure you've never had any complications at all in any of your fusions?