Surgery — What You Need to Know

Risks of Surgery

Early Complications

• Large clinical trials have reported complication rates that are not negligible
• These include infection, bleeding, nerve injury, dural tears, and hardware-related problems

Adjacent Segment Disease

When a section of the spine is fused, the segments above and below may bear additional mechanical stress.

• Incidence varies widely across studies, but it is a recognized long-term risk
• Risk factors: older age, obesity
• May require additional surgery

Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS)

Some patients continue to experience pain — or develop new pain — after spinal surgery. This is known as "failed back surgery syndrome" (FBSS).

• A significant proportion of patients experience this, with incidence varying by study
• Repeat surgery has a low likelihood of improvement

Research has shown that for FBSS patients, reoperation is unlikely to provide relief. Long-term opioid use has also not been shown to be effective in this population.

For patients with FBSS, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is one treatment option that may be considered. Several clinical trials have reported benefits, though SCS also carries its own risks.