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Spinal fusion is a surgical technique in which one or more vertebrae are fused together to stop the motion between them.
Spinal fusion may be recommended for:
Abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis or kyphosis)
Injury to the spinal vertebrae
Protrusion of the cushioning disk between vertebrae (slipped disk, herniated nucleus pulposus)
Weak or unstable spine caused by infections or tumors
Review Date 10/15/2023
Updated by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
