UCI Health orthopedic surgeon discusses future of spinal fusion

November 19, 2019

IN THE NEWS:  UCI Health spine surgeon Nitin N. Bhatia, MD, participated in a recent online panel for Becker’s Spine Review. Bhatia, interim chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, was among eight spine specialists to address the question: “What trends will we see in spinal fusions over the next five years?” He said:

“Spinal fusions will continue to be used widely for appropriate indications. Over the next five years, however, we will see improvements in how these surgeries are performed and how well our patients do after surgery. Improvement in surgical technique, anesthesiology, navigation systems and other technological developments will allow surgeries to be performed on an outpatient basis and with less risk for surgical complications. Furthermore, advancements in biologics will provide more consistent bony healing even in less optimal patients. Finally, as outcome measurements of surgical success are used and followed in a more widespread basis, our understanding of who will really benefit from fusions will be further improved.”

Learn more