Here is a case that shows why spinal fusion is often needed along with laminectomy (decompression) surgery. It also illustrates the importance of having a thorough evaluation done by your doctor. What makes a thorough evaluation is having a complete history and proper X-rays.
Image 1: This patient had spinal stenosis at L4-5 on MRI that looks straightforward as the first image shows.
Image 2: The X-rays revealed that he had severe spinal stenosis as the L4 and L5 as well as spondylolisthesis, which caused instability.
The third image is the postoperative X-ray taken six weeks after the L4 and L5 laminectomy and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) back surgery.
In doing the TLIF spinal fusion, the surgeon stabilized the spinal vertebra. The result? It resolved all of the patient’s symptoms including his back pain and leg pain.
