Spinal stabilization involves surgical procedures to treat acute spinal injuries and conditions by restoring vertebral alignment and removing bone fragments. The degree of stabilization depends on the severity of the problem. Surgery involves inserting instruments like screws and plates in the back to stabilize the spine and facilitate fusion after decompression. Minimally invasive procedures perform stabilization through small incisions without damaging muscles. Recovery takes around six months with limited activity and physical therapy starting in the first week.

1. SPINAL
STABILIZATION
-SANDRA SUSAN SAJAN
BACHELOR OF PHYSIOTHERAPY

2. BRIEF FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY
• Vertebral spine , the backbone of all the physical activities of our daily life ,
is composed of 33 vertebrae , forming four compact units.
Cervical unit of 7 vertebrae
Dorsal or thoracic unit of 12 vertebrae
Lumbar unit of 5 vertebrae , and
Sacrococcygeal unit of 9 fused vertebrae

3. • The units are specially designed to perform the following three functions:
• Free mobility to the neck by the cervical unit , and free mobility of the trunk
by the thoracolumbar unit.
• Stability (static as well as dynamic) to the body’s movement by the thoracic
and sacrococcygeal unit.
• Protection to the soft vital organs by the thoracic unit and to the spinal cord
by the vertebral chain formed by the cervical , dorsal as well as lumbar units.

4. *SPINAL STABILIZATION*
• Spinal cord stabilization involves surgical stabilization procedures that are used to
treat acute spinal injuries.
• Stabilization of the spinal cord is a surgical procedure in which bone fragments are
removed and the alignment of the vertebrae is restored.
• The degree of stabilization required depends on the severity of the problem and the
assessment done by a Surgeon.
• Spinal stabilization surgery involves inserting instruments such as screws and plates
in back of your spine to stabilize it and facilitate fusion after decompression.
• The spinal stability system consists of three sub-systems : passive spinal column ,
active spinal muscles and neural control unit.

5. • Spinal stability ensures the muscles in your spine are working in the right way
to properly support and stabilize the spine.
• Spinal stabilization is important if you suffer from chronic neck and back
pain , whether it is acute or chronic , and if you want to remain pain-free.
• Spinal stabilization becomes necessary to treat a number of spine conditions.
*IMPORTANCE OF SPINAL
STABILISATION

6. Why you would need Spinal Stabilization Surgery
• Spinal stabilization surgery is used to treat the following conditions:
Trauma from an auto or sports –related injury
Trauma due to falling from a high place , resulting in spinal compression , fractures ,
and other conditions
Degenerative conditions such as scoliosis and herniated discs
Spinal fractures from bone loss due to osteoporosis
Spondylolisthesis
Spinal tumors

7. What happens in Spinal Stabilization Surgery
• Different surgical procedures are used to stabilize your spine . A common surgery
involves instrumentation .
• Your surgeon will use hardware such as facet screws , percutaneous pedicle screws
and spinous process plates to fuse the backbones together .
• Spinal instrumentation is done along with decompression which is a minimally
invasive procedure performed to take pressure off the spinal cord or nerve roots .
Before inserting the hardware , your surgeon will remove the part of the spine that
is pressing on the nerves .
• After this , a fusion is done in which the surgeon puts in irradiated cadaver bone
secured with rods , screws and plates that hold everything together till the time the
patient’s bone and bone graft fuse together.

9. Minimally Invasive Spine Stabilization Surgery
• Minimally invasive stabilization procedures offer a safe and effective
treatment option for most spinal conditions.
• In the minimally invasive procedure , stabilization of the spine is performed
through a small incision without damaging or cutting the surrounding
muscles .
• A special X-Ray guides the surgeon throughout the procedure . A tabular
dilator is used to access the spine between the muscles . Retractors help keep
the space open during the procedure . Special implants are then placed to
fuse two or more vertebrae together.

10. How long does it take to recover from Spinal
Stabilization Surgery?
• The pain will subside in four weeks after the procedure . However , there will
be some pain over several months .
• Limited activity is allowed and there should be no lifting , bending ,and
twisting while the bones fuse together .
• Physical Therapy will start in the first week after the surgery with walking
and stretching followed by static stabilization exercises for the next two
months .
• It takes around six months to fully recover from Spinal Stabilization Surgery.