Failed Back Surgery

Failed Back Surgery

What is Failed Back Surgery?

The spine is a complex structure, and a disorder in a disc, joint, or other part of the back can lead to pain that harms quality of life.

When other measures fail, many people choose spine surgeries such as spinal fusion to try and alleviate the back pain. Like all invasive surgeries, spine surgery also carries risks, such as nerve damage, infections, etc. There is also a risk that the spine surgery just won’t work.

It is estimated that about 20% of back surgeries fail to provide long lasting relief from back pain. In some of the cases, patients undergo multiple surgeries and still experience pain. Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) is recognized by doctors as a real problem for many chronic back pain patients.

What are the symptoms of Failed Back Surgery?

Patients with FBSS often have continued back pain and leg pain following spine surgery. This pain may be similar to their previous pain, or of a different quality. Symptoms may include:

Chronic, diffuse pain in the back or limbs

Sharp pain in the back or limbs

Numbness

Weakness

Limited mobility

Who is prone to Failed Back Surgery?

Failed Back Surgery affects approximately 10%–40% of patients who undergo spine surgery. Every operation is not successful, however the success rate ranges from 50% to nearly 100% depending on the indication. Consequently, the prevalence of FBSS is quite high.

What causes Failed Back Surgery?

There are many reasons why a spine surgery might not result in a completely pain-free existence, including:

Improper preoperative patient selection

Recurrent disc herniation after spine surgery

Technical error during surgery

Patient factors like obesity, structural anomaly, etc.

Inadequate rehabilitation post spine surgery