Pseudarthrosis After Cervical Fusion
If your cervical fusion did not heal, or your symptoms returned after an initially successful surgery, pseudarthrosis may be the reason.
Also Called: Failed fusion, non-union, painful non-union.
What It Is
Pseudarthrosis occurs when the bone graft from a prior neck fusion does not fully turn into solid bone. The treated segment stays slightly mobile instead of healing into one piece. That motion can keep the original pain, numbness, or weakness going, or bring it back after a period when the surgery seemed to work.
Causes & Risk Factors
Smoking is the biggest modifiable risk factor for a fusion failing to heal; it interferes with how bone forms. Risk also rises with the number of levels fused and with osteoporosis. Pseudarthrosis is more common than most patients realize, and it is easy to miss on standard imaging, especially early on.
Symptoms
- Persistent or returning neck pain after a prior cervical fusion
- Arm pain, numbness, or weakness that never fully went away — or that came back after initial improvement
- Imaging showing that the treated level hasn't fully healed
There's no single right treatment for Pseudarthrosis After Cervical Fusion. The best plan depends on your imaging, your history, and your exam. The next step is a conversation about your specific case.
Dr. Hirsch is board-certified and Yale-trained. Read his full background.