Pseudarthrosis

One of the goals of fusion surgery is for the bones to heal together or “weld” into one solid piece of bone. For fusion surgeries, bone graft is used to achieve fusion and the fusion heals much in the same way a broken bone heals in a cast. If the bones do not “weld together” properly, then motion may continue across the area. For some patients, motion in that area can cause pain similar to that of a broken bone that never heals. Many patients with pseudarthrosis have no symptoms. For these asymptomatic patients, often further treatment or evaluation is not necessary as the risk of revision surgery outweighs the benefit. However, for those symptomatic patients, x-rays and CT scans of the spine may be used to determine if a spinal fusion has occurred.

When patients present to our office having had previous spinal surgery, we not only take a thorough medical history but also review any previous imaging and/or update imaging studies. The goal of any surgery is to treat symptoms and return patients to a good quality of life. If patients report they did well for a few months after surgery then symptoms return, often in the same distribution as their pre-surgical pain, we are suspicious of a pseudarthrosis.

To confirm a non-union or pseudarthrosis imaging is required. During office visits we obtain x-ray imaging to fully evaluate your spine. These images typically include standing AP, lateral, flexion and extension views. Bones on an x-ray appear dense whereas discs often appear black like an empty space between vertebral bodies. A spinal fusion removes the disc and bone will form between two separate vertebral bodies making them one larger unit. If a pseudarthrosis is present typically there is a lucency, or darkness, where there should be bone. Also on standing flexion and extension radiographs motion may be seen which is abnormal in a well-healed fusion. A computed tomography (CT) scan is a more advanced imaging system to evaluate bony anatomy. CT scans are often used to confirm pseudarthrosis.