Fusion is the process of joining bones with bone grafts, adding bone graft or bone graft substitute to an area of the spine to set up a biological response that causes the bone to grow between the two vertebral elements and thereby stop the motion at that segment. The fusion process essentially "tricks" the body into thinking it has a fracture.

Posterior cervical fusion is performed on the back of the neck region for reasons such as instability of the spine, fracture, degenerative disc disease, or stabilization for tumors. The goal with fusion is to stabilize the spine so that pain or deformity is reduced.

The General Procedure:

1. Surgical approach
• The surgical approach to the spine is from the back through a midline incision.
• The muscles are dissected off of the lamina, and the facet joints and lateral mass are identified.
  
  
2. Preparation of the fusion bed
• The soft tissue and cartilage of the facet joints are then removed.
• The surfaces are meticulously prepared for bone graft by burring or with a gouge. This allows surface area for the ingrowth of bone.


3. Bone graft and fusion
• Bone graft is often obtained from the pelvis (the iliac crest).
• Alternatively, bone graft substitutes and extenders can be used.
• Next, the bone graft material is laid out in the posterolateral portion of the spine, and packed into the facet joints.
• The back muscles are then released over the bone graft, creating tension to hold the bone graft in place.

The body responds by building bone between the moving segments to stop them from moving. Instrumentation may be added to hold the vertebrae together to help increase the chance of fusion.

Extra support in the form of wires, a screw and plate, or screw and rod may be used to help hold the facets from moving, hence hastening fusion.

However, a solid fusion is not always achieved. There are a few factors that patients can control that are important in determining whether or not a fusion grows in solidly, including:

• Smoking cessation. It is generally advisable to quit smoking prior to a spinal fusion procedure, as nicotine is a direct toxin to bone graft and will prevent the bone from forming.
• Limited motion. Bone forms better if motion is limited, so patients are often advised to avoid bending, lifting, and twisting for up to three months after spinal fusion surgery depending on the amount of instability.