What is lumbar facet joint fusion?
The facet joints are small joints located at the back of the spine that help guide movement and provide stability between adjacent vertebrae. When a facet joint becomes significantly degenerated, arthritic, painful, or unstable, it can contribute to persistent low back pain and spinal instability.
Lumbar facet joint fusion is designed to stabilize the affected facet joint and spinal segment while allowing the bones to fuse over time. The technique used by Dr. Shamloo is known as transfacet fusion, or transfacet pedicle screw fixation.
Instead of approaching the spine through a large surgical exposure, the procedure uses the facet joint itself as a targeted pathway for stabilization.
Who may be a candidate?
Minimally invasive facet fusion is an advanced procedure intended for carefully selected patients. It may be considered for patients with conditions involving the facet joint or spinal instability, including certain patients with:
The procedure is particularly focused on patients in whom the facet joint plays an important role in the underlying pain or instability. Not every patient with facet arthritis or low back pain is a candidate for fusion.
Facet fusion vs. minimally invasive lumbar fusion
Both procedures are designed to provide lumbar spinal stabilization and fusion, but they address the spine in different ways. Neither is universally better — they are different tools designed to address different anatomical and clinical situations.
The right procedure depends on your spine — not on a one-size-fits-all treatment. Dr. Shamloo evaluates your imaging, anatomy, source of pain, degree of instability, facet joint condition, and treatment goals before determining which approach is appropriate.
A small-incision, same-day procedure
One of the most important advantages of this approach is that “fusion” does not necessarily mean a lengthy hospital stay or months away from normal life. For appropriately selected patients, the procedure is designed around a very small incision, sedation, an outpatient setting, and going home the same day.
Most patients can resume most normal daily activities the following day. Temporary restrictions on bending, lifting, and strenuous activity are generally necessary while the treated area begins to heal.
Although patients can return to many everyday activities quickly, the fusion itself continues to develop over time as the bones heal and stabilize.
Advanced facet fusion in Los Angeles
At Elite Spine & Pain Institute, Dr. Ben Shamloo, MD, FIPP, specializes in advanced minimally invasive approaches to spinal pain and stabilization. Minimally invasive lumbar facet joint fusion represents an emerging approach for appropriately selected patients who require lumbar stabilization.
Using specialized transfacet pedicle screw technology, Dr. Shamloo can target the affected facet joint and stabilize the spinal segment through a focused approach designed to minimize disruption to the surrounding anatomy.