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Does T9-L3 fusion sound right? How stiff will this make my back?
Spine Health | Last Active: Dec 2, 2025 | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
@sherrym25 Here is the radiologist report. T8-T9: Facet and costovertebral osteophytes contribute to moderate left and mild right foraminal stenoses.
T9-T10: There is 1-2 mm anterolisthesis of T9 on Tl0. A diffuse annular disc bulge, facet and costovertebral osteophytes and thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis and mild bilateral foraminal stenoses.
Tl0-Tll: There is mild chronic loss of disc space height. A diffuse annular
disc bulge, superimposed broad-based central, left paracentral left foraminal disc osteophyte, facet osteophytes and thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis and moderate bilateral foraminal stenoses.
Tll-T12: A diffuse annular disc bulge, a superimposed small central disc protrusion, left worse than right facet hypertrophy and mild thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis, without
significant change from comparison examinations dating back to 11/19/2022.
T12-Ll: A diffuse annular disc bulge again is noted. A superimposed large central and left paracentral disc extrusion has not changed significantly from 11/19/2022. Hypertrophy and thickening of the ligamentum flavum are worse
(series 12, image 7/50 on 11/19/2022, compared with series 7, images 4-5/48 on today's exam), now resulting in severe spinal canal stenosis. The con us medullaris remains deviated posteriorly and to the right of mid line. Focal
signal abnormality of the con us medullaris (series 7, images 5-7 /48) likely represents myelomalacia.
Ll-L2: A broad-based central disc protrusion, facet hypertrophy and thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis.
L2-L3: A broad-based central, right paracentral right foraminal disc
osteophyte and facet hypertrophy contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis,
mild narrowing of the right lateral recess and moderate right foraminal stenosis, without significant change.
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Also from radiologist: FINDINGS:
Again noted, there are twelve typical nonrib-bearing thoracic type and five typical nonrib-bearing lumbar type vertebral segments. Again noted, a convex left curvature is centered at T3 T4. A convex right curvature is centered at
T6-T7 and a convex left lumbar curvature is centered at L2-L3. There is straightening of the normal thoracic kyphosis and a normal lumbar lordosis.
Again noted, remote L4 and LS laminectomies and L3-LS posterolateral instrumented fixation (PLIF) were performed nearly 4 years ago. Bilateral pedicle screws L3, L4 and LS are transfixed by bilateral, vertically oriented interconnecting rods. There is no evidence of hardware loosening or osteolysis. Again noted, percutaneous vertebral augmentation of T12 was performed nearly three years ago.
There is no acute thoracic or lumbar vertebral fracture. The thoracolumbar facets are well aligned. There is no epidural hemorrhage or abnormal epidural fluid collection the thoracic or lumbar regions. The spinal cord demonstrate normal course, caliber and signal characteristics, without intrinsic abnormality or extrinsic compression. The tip of the conus medullaris terminates at the level of Ll-L2. The nerve roots the cauda equina demonstrate an expected distribution within the thecal sac.
C7-Tl: Normal
Tl-T2: Mild facet hypertrophy is not associated with stenosis.
T2-T3: A shallow annular disc bulge, a superimposed small right paracentral and foraminal disc protrusion and mild facet hypertrophy contribute to mild right foraminal stenosis.
T3-T4: A small right paracentral disc protrusion does not exert significant mass effect on the thecal sac.
T4-TS: A first right facet hypertrophy is not associated with stenosis.
TS-T6: A broad-based central right paracentral disc protrusion and thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis and mild narrowing of the right lateral recess. The disc protrusion mildly indents the right ventral cervical spinal cord. There is no spinal cord edema.
T6-T7, T7-T8: Facet osteophytes contribute to mild bilateral foraminal