Follow-up Care:
After your Lumbar Fusion
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For your lumbar fusion, please follow the basic instructions in “After your back surgery.” Lumbar fusions may involve conditions such as posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), variable spinal plating (VSP), internal fixation, posterior lateral fusion, and any or all of the above in any combination. Recovery from a fusion is slower than routine back surgery and restrictions last for longer periods of time.
Mature fusions take approximately 12 months to become completely solid, but they become quite solid by 2-4 months. Restrictions are similar to those for routine back surgery but are longer. You must carefully restrict your bending and twisting. Generally, x-rays are taken every 3-4 months following surgery, directly before your follow-up visit. Please bring your x-ray films with you to your follow-up appointments. Your follow-up period may last 4 to 12 months.
Other post-surgical situation care situations:
After your carpal tunnel surgery
After your ulnar nerve transposition
After your back surgery or your lumbar fusion
After your lumbar fusion
After your cervical surgery
After your craniotomy
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