Hi All....

My Dad had an L4-5 fusion on December 8, 2011. They placed rods, screws, and a cage with bone graft material. He saw his doctor for x-rays at the end of May, almost 6 months post-surgery, and while the hardware looks great (no movement or loosening), the doctor stated that he didn't see any evidence of bone growth/fusion in the area.

His doctor didn't seem very concerned about this, however I would have expected to see some signs of bone growth by now! My Dad is 65 years young and is in great physical shape, not overweight, no smoking, drinking, etc. Does anyone have any experience with lack of bone growth at the 6 month mark? Is this normal? And if he doesn't show any growth by July, what can be done?

Thanks in advance for ANY help!!

I had a C5-6 fusion with anterior plate and screws and a PEEK cage. Not sure if lumbar post-surgical radiographic findings are similar to the cervical spine, but I did not show obvious bony ossification thru the cage at all years later and I am not at all sure there is supposed to be. The cage is in the way. I am pretty sure that bony growth will occur to the extent that the endplates grow into the cage but never all the way thru it. The bigger issue is that there is no compromise of the hardware and no non-union (apparently) but check with the surgeon as it would seem that with bone graft material present, there should be some ossification....

It not unusual to see no bone growth at six months. Usually you will see SOME bone growth at about a year -- but this is a very SLOW process. So try to be patient. I know it's hard, but at his age it might be a bit slower than usual. It's good that he's in good physical shape and doesn't smoke -- that's great. But still as we age, the process slows up -- so just be patient.

I wish you the very best. Please keep us posted on his progress, will you? I hope so. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

I was luckey and did show growth after 6 months of a triple spinal fusion. I am alot younnger It may just take longer with age. I wish him well.

I had fusion L4-S1 in 2007 loose screws replaced 2009 with BMP still no bone growth I don,t smoke but do drink alcohol I do get severe pain but you learn to manage how you are, I'm now 55 my advise is take it very steady try to do core exercise but listen to what you body tells you and you should not have to have any more surgery, the thought of that frightens me as well.

My second surgery was a fusion which was done in 2010 that didn't fuse at all found out like 8mo in that screws weren't in place so a year out from that surgery in 2011 drs removed the hardware and replaced it with a interbody graft cage fusion had MRI done 4mo after it showed movement so we waited CT scan was done in March and guess what incomplete fusion again. Am not sure why am not fusioning I don't smoke or drink. So now I have to have a fourth surgery to fix this problem.