Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is a spinal disorder that may develop after surgical spinal fusion.
The spinal column is a stack of motion segments, each unit consisting of a sandwich made up of a vertebrae above, a disc in the middle & a vertebrae below. Motion segments work as a unit to absorb & distribute forces similar to the shock absorbers on a car. If one of the shocks is damaged or fails to move, it will adversely affect the ride & cause additional stress on the remaining shocks.
In the case of back surgery, when the spine is fused; the motion segment will no longer move. Therefore, the motion segments above & below the spinal fusion must compensate for lost motion at the fused level(s). These adjacent joints are subjected to additional stress which leads to accelerated wear, tear & failure.
ASD is just one of the risks of spine surgery; additionally there may be complications from anesthesia, infections, hardware fracture, spinal cord injuries.
Before consenting to spinal surgery, consult with Triangle Spinal Decompression. We help patients with slipped, herniated or bulging discs avoid surgery altogether. Your comfort & safety is our top priority & you’ll find Spinal Decompression treatment to be enjoyable, successful & affordable.