There is not a single surgery in the world that goes perfectly 100 percent of the time, but medical science and skilled surgeons are doing everything in their power to increase success rates and limit complications. One such surgery that has higher than average risks for potential complications is spinal fusion surgery. Dr. Sinicropi has performed hundreds of fusion procedures and he does everything in his power to achieve complication rates below the industry average, but it’s not always easy.
Preventing complications and ensuring patients have a successful surgery doesn’t happen by accident. Here are some of the ways Dr. Sinicropi and his team work to prevent spinal fusion complications.
Surgery Doesn’t Stop Pain
Industry statistics say that in more than 20 percent of patients, surgery doesn’t end up solving their pain. For one reason or another, even though the surgery went well, pain still exists. We work to prevent this problem by doing our homework and ensuring that your spinal problem has a high likelihood of responding well to surgery. We’re not going to push for unnecessary surgeries or move forward with an operation if it’s not likely to get you the results you hope for.
Pseudoarthrosis
Pseudoarthrosis is an issue that occurs when the vertebrae don’t fuse together like they are supposed to. Statistics say it can happen in up to 10 percent of surgeries, but for Dr. Sinicropi the rate is much lower for a number of reasons. Not only does he use specific techniques and instrumentation that provide for better fusion, but he also takes the time to walk his prospective patients through the importance of a healthy lifestyle before and after surgery. Smoking and other unhealthy habits can impact the likelihood of a successful fusion, so Dr. Sinicropi helps to educate his patients on what they can control to help their surgery go as expected.
Bleeding and Blood Clots
During and after surgery, blood loss and the formation of blood clots can prove problematic for your health. Dr. Sinicropi uses specialized surgical techniques to avoid any excess cutting to structures in order to access the surgical site, which helps to reduce bleeding, and because his techniques are less invasive, patients can often be more mobile sooner after surgery, which helps to prevent the formation of blood clots.
Infections
Infections can cause problems for your surgical site and your whole body, so Dr. Sinicropi works tirelessly to avoid introducing bacteria to the wound site. All his equipment is carefully sterilized and antibiotics are given throughout surgery to help prevent infections. He also educates his patients on the best wound care practices so they can prevent infections when they leave the surgery center.
Nerve Damage
Finally, there are a number of nerves throughout your spine that are vital for other aspects of your life, and if these are damaged during surgery, problems can develop. Dr. Sinicropi’s wealth of experience and his surgical instrumentation and imaging devices all help him plan for the location of vital nerves and prevent them from being affected. Trust your spinal fusion to a surgeon who has successfully prevented nerve damage and all the previously listed complications countless times before. For more information, contact Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
