ABSTRACT
Spinal fusion may be performed for the treatment of degenerative disc disease, instability, or deformity. This commonly performed procedure aims to eliminate motion between adjacent vertebrae by achieving segmental union. While instrumentation and postoperative bracing are often used to limit spinal motion after fusion surgery, bony union is necessary to achieve long-term stability. There have been significant advances in understanding this process over recent years, but many important details remain incompletely understood (1).
