Lumbar fusion is a surgery designed to alleviate back pain by stopping the motion of a vertebral segment. It involves adding a bone graft to a segment of the spine, which grows between the two vertebral elements to create a bone fusion.
As with any spinal surgery, there are risks associated with lumbar fusion that can have a profound and adverse impact on a patient’s life. Unfortunately, complications often arise due to medical malpractice, or the failure of a surgical team to provide a reasonable standard of care.
It is often the case that patients do not realize they were the victims of medical malpractice until they discover that their recovery is not consistent with the expected lumbar fusion recovery timeline. The average hospital stay after a lumbar fusion is three to four days. Most patients are able to start outpatient physical therapy four to six weeks after surgery. Some can return to work after just four weeks, though it is not uncommon for patients with strenuous jobs to require four to six months off work. It can take up to one year for the bones to heal fully.
Surgical mistakes can cause patients to recover slower than expected and to exhibit symptoms of a failed lumbar fusion. These symptoms include:
- Infection;
- Pain at the incision site;
- Nausea;
- Numbness or pain in the legs, arms, hands, or feet;
- Swelling of the feet, calves, or legs;
- Loss of bowel or bladder control; or
- Burning or pain during urination, or a change in urination frequency.
If you’re an attorney representing a patient who suffered a spinal injury due to medical malpractice, a life care plan can serve as valuable evidence during litigation and when negotiating with the insurance company. A life care plan is a document that lists the necessary medications, treatments, and modalities a patient will require to attain optimal recovery, along with associated costs.
At Cardinal LifeCare Consulting, our life care planning experts use evidence-based practice guidelines, the patient’s medical history, and recommendations from medical specialists to develop comprehensive life care plans that serve as valuable evidence in medical malpractice cases. Call us today at 724.487.0519 to speak with a consultant.
Failed Lumbar Fusion Revision Timeline
A failed lumbar fusion revision may be able to reduce the symptoms listed above and possibly allow a patient to make a full recovery. The approach a surgeon takes to a lumbar fusion revision depends on the issues with the original lumbar fusion, which may include implant or fusion failures as well as transfer lesions.
The failed lumbar fusion revision timeline depends on the nature of the revision, but recovery is often consistent with a typical lumbar fusion surgery. Patients can expect to start physical therapy after four to six weeks and may have to take one to six months off work.
If you’re an attorney representing a patient who underwent a failed lumbar fusion, contact Cardinal LifeCare Consulting to discuss getting a life care plan developed for your client. Call 724.487.0519 today to schedule a consultation.
