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| In the posterior fusion, the bone graft is placed on the back side of the vertebrae. During the healing process the vertebrae then fuse, or grow together. This creates a solid block of bone between the vertebrae, and the vertebra that are fused together act like one bone. The interbody fusion differs by placing the bone graft between the vertebrae, where the disk has been removed. Once again, the healing process causes the vertebrae to fuse, creating a solid block of bone between the fused vertebrae. Both fusion’s accomplish the same thing. The vertebrae grow together, or fuse into one bone. The goal of a spinal fusion is to stop the motion between two vertebra that comes from segmental instability. Fusing the vertebra together reduces the mechanical back pain and impingement on the nerve root that comes from too much motion between the vertebra. |
Mark underwent a successful lumbar fusion this
morning to hopefully relieve a majority of the back pain he has dealt with
for years. Dr. Chuck Kollmer performed the procedure in New Smyrna Beach,
Fla. Dr. Kollmer is the same physician who performed surgery on Mark's
knee in July."Mark did very well through the surgery," Dr. Kollmer said. "There was no nerve damage from the procedure and now it is just a matter of the bone healing. His back pain should be much better, although not entirely gone." Mark suffered from a condition called spondylolisthesis in which part of the bone in the back is broken which causes instability and causes the bone below it to slip. That puts pressure on the nerves in the back and causes pain. During the 3 1/2-hour procedure, Dr. Kollmer removed the portion of broken bone and inserted hardware and additional bone which will fuse together to stabilize his lower back. Mark is expected to remain in the hospital until Friday. |
| "He will be laying down today and we hope to start him walking by tomorrow," Dr. Kollmer said. "Once the pain is under control, we will be able to send him home. We will take X-rays several times over the next two months to make sure everything is healing properly. We hope to start a slow rehabilitation program of his extremities next week. He will wear a lower back brace to keep that area stable." |
| The full recovery time for this type of procedure is usually about one year. Dr. Kollmer said Mark should feel better in about six weeks once the bone heals. At this time, Mark does not plan on climbing into a race car until Feb. 10 at Daytona. |
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