I'm just guessing here, but I would think that there might be a difference in recovery between accidents & DDD, etc. With an accident, depending on the severity of it, the bones could be in pretty bad shape -- alot would depend on the breaks if there are any, and how CLEAN the breaks might be as far as the facets & bony structures of the spine. With DDD, usually the bones aren't broken and are easier to work with. The problems come in with osteoporosis & osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis will impede bone growth - in fact, many doctors will NOT perform surgery on a patient with osteoporosis -- count me as one of them that they won't touch. I've gone to the head of neurology of a large teaching hospital, and have been deemed "inoperable."

So I think alot depends on the reason for the fusion. But i'm just guessing. Hugs, Lee