Skip to content
Facet Fusion in MN
What Is Facet Fusion?
A facet fusion is a surgical option available for patients with chronic back pain due to facet joint syndrome or spinal arthritis. With this procedure, the vertebrae in the painful area are fused together to stop joint movement. Eliminating joint movement stops the pain.
What are Facet Joints?
The facet joints of the spinal column are two joints between each of the 24 non-fused vertebrae that form the spine. These joints have a disc between them, and they are surrounded by fibrous ligaments. The facet joints are small, containing tiny amounts of synovial fluid that lubricates them for joint movement. With injury, aging, or damage, these joints can become painful and inflamed, particularly when the loss of lubrication creates too much friction.
What Is Facet Joint Syndrome?
Facet joint syndrome is a back-pain condition in which an arthritic facet joint causes pain and stiffness, can reduce flexibility, and make it harder for you to perform your routine daily tasks. Facet joint syndrome can be caused by aging, un-diagnosed osteoarthritis, or prolonged alcohol and tobacco use. Facet joint syndrome is most common in the lumbar region of the spine, but can still affect the cervical, thoracic, or sacral vertebrae.
Who Is a Candidate for a Facet Fusion?
To find out if you’re a candidate for facet fusion, a consultation with a spinal surgeon is needed. Patients who have been diagnosed with facet joint syndrome, osteoarthritis, mild to moderate degenerative disc disease, or spondylolisthesis where conservative back pain treatments have not provided relief may be eligible for facet fusion. These conservative treatment methods include anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, muscle relaxants, and pain medicine.
In addition, you must have attempted physical therapy, spinal manipulation, and traction for pain relief. Certain patients may not be eligible for a facet fusion, such as people with uncontrolled diabetes, those with a bleeding disorder, individuals with severe degenerative disease of the discs and vertebrae, and persons with an active infection.
What Are the Benefits of Facet Fusion Surgery?
Facet fusion is a minimally invasive procedure and does not often result in complications such as bleeding, nerve damage, or infection. With minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques used, patients experience a quicker recovery. After fusing the facet joints there will be no further mobility or motion in this area, so joint pain is alleviated. Fusion provides the relief needed, which allows patients to go about usual activities.
Another benefit of this surgery is that the facet fusion only takes 45 to 60 minutes to perform. Most patients only have to stay one night at the hospital. Because there is little muscle or tissue manipulation, rehabilitation is not painful or lengthy.
Preparing for Facet Fusion Surgery
For any spinal surgery, there are many things you can do to prepare for your procedure to be ready for the surgery itself and your recovery period. Beyond the items listed in our back surgery planning guide, there are specific things you’ll need to prepare before your facet fusion.
Because you will need to recover after the procedure, you should do the following:
- Arrange to have a shower chair
- Install handrails on the stairways
- Remove all loose rugs from floors.
- Arrange to have someone stay with you for a few nights after you come home from the hospital
- Have plenty of pre-made meals and water available
Before your procedure, you must fast for 8 hours. You can have your usual medications with a small sip of water. Also, ensure you notify the doctor if you are taking any agents that thin the blood.
How Effective is Facet Fusion Surgery?
In a recent radiological follow-up study, researchers assessed the efficacy and safety rates associated with instrumented facet fusion of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine regions. The clinical study involved 99 people with degenerative disc disease who had been treated conservatively for more than 2 years.
The researchers found that after facet fusion, the 2-year success rate was 96%, with a 99% efficacy rate for one-level fusion procedures. Overall, the procedure was found to be a safe, simple, and effective option for the treatment of patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and other spinal disorders.
Get Your Questions Answered
Inspired Spine has developed a patented procedure for patients that involves less blood loss, faster recovery, and amazing pain relief. The facet fusion surgery takes less than an hour, and most patients can go home the same day.
Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgeries
See Our Treatments
Inspired Spine has developed advanced minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques that allow us to treat even complex spinal conditions without the drawbacks of traditional open back surgery.
Are You a
Candidate for
MIS Spinal
Surgery?
Is neck or back pain restricting your daily activities? For 6 months or more? Have non-surgical treatments failed to help?
“I Live a Whole
Different Life.”
Over 1,000 patients have benefited from Inspired Spine MIS Surgeries. See testimonials from just a few.