Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure in which two or more vertebrae are fused together using bone grafts and metal rods and screws, so that they cannot move independent of one another. Spinal fusion is may be use to correct intractable pain following a disk herniation or it may be used to treat spinal deformities, such as scoliosis.

In a posterior lateral spinal fusion for a herniated disk, in incision is made posteriorly over the spinal column, accessing the vertebrae to be fused. Small sections of bone are then removed from the vertebra, allowing entry to the areas needing surgical repair. The spinal nerves are gently retracted as pieces of the herniated disk are removed. Hardware, such as screws and rods, are then inserted in order to stabilize the vertebrae. Bone grafts from the patient, or donor, are added into the space between the vertebrae in order to fuse the vertebra together when they heal.

Figure 1: Intervertebral disk with herniation. Figure 2: Retraction of nerves and removal of disk material.
Figure 3: Placement of screws and rods.
Figure 4: Placement of bone grafts.