Should My Elderly Parent Have Surgery?
If Fusion Surgery Is Recommended — Proceed with Extra Caution
Why Fusion Surgery Requires Careful Consideration
Compared to decompression (which simply relieves pressure on the nerves), fusion surgery (which stabilizes the spine with screws) involves:
| Factor | Decompression | Fusion |
|---|---|---|
| Surgery time | 1–2 hours | 3–5 hours |
| Blood loss | Low | Higher |
| Post-operative pain | Mild | Significant |
| Hospital stay | Shorter | Longer |
| Long-term risks | Fewer | Adjacent segment disease |
When multi-level fusion (fusion at two or more levels) is needed, the physical toll is substantial, and there is an added risk of adjacent segment disease — a condition where the vertebrae above and below the fused section begin to break down over time.
SCS as an Alternative to Fusion
When multi-level fusion is being considered, SCS (Spinal Cord Stimulation) may be a viable alternative:
| Comparison | Multi-level fusion | SCS |
|---|---|---|
| Physical burden | High | Low |
| Can you try it first? | No | Yes — a 1-week trial is available |
| Is it reversible? | Generally not | The device can be removed |
| Adjacent segment disease | Risk exists | Not applicable |
[!info] Learn more about SCS Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) explains how it works and who it's suited for.