While we have developed solutions to many difficult spine problems such as herniated discs, we have also struggled to find the answer for many others. Lumbar fusions have been one of those difficult problems we have struggled with. Historically it has been (and in many cases remains) a surgery that involves considerable derangement of the anatomy. However, advances in technology and prosthetic devices along with refinement of surgical techniques have led to much brighter outlook for many patients with debilitating low back pain.

Case One
This is the case of a 48 year old woman with increasingly severe low back pain despite extensive non-operative treatment. Physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and increasing use of medications had failed to improve her condition. Over several years time she saw her activity level and quality of life substantially diminish. After repeatedly being told by several orthopaedic surgeons that there was nothing else that could be done for her, she was eventually referred to Dr. Lurate by her Navy physician who had been previously stationed with Dr. Lurate. As her preoperative studies show, she had rather severe degenerative disc disease at L4 - L5. She underwent a single level anterior interbody fusion. Her postoperative result was outstanding. She was able to return to work full time without need for pain medications.
 

Case Two
This is the case of a 44-year-old man with long history of chronic low back pain. He had difficulty over the years with repeated episodes of disability from work and had been unable to work for nearly a year as a result of the most recent reinjury. Extensive non-operative efforts at rehabilitation had failed. As the pre-operative x-ray demonstrates, he had severe degenerative disc disease of L5 - S1 with relative sparing of adjacent levels. Through minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, he underwent an anterior L5 - S1 spinal fusion. He was released to return to work two months after surgery. The "anterior" approach involves an approach through the abdomen that completely preserves the integrity of the spinal musculature. In many cases this technique also results in a biomechanically superior spinal fusion. Recovery is notably faster and in the opinion of increasing numbers of spine surgeons, yields a superior long-term result.