Do I have to wear my back brace at night?

Back brace is used to stabilize your spine after spinal fusion surgery.   These braces are used to hold the spine together until fusion occurs.  Spinal Fusion is the joining of one vertebrae to another vertebrae by bone bridge.  The two vertebrae and the bone graft eventually become one solid bone.  Spinal instrumentation acts as a internal brace to hold the fusion together.  This may consist of rods, screws, plates, clamps or wires.

The rate of spinal fusion depends on many factors including age, activity, size, location.  Spinal fusion is decreased by smoking and usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

Spine braces can be in the form of a neck collar after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis (TLSO) after treatment of a thoraco-lumbar burst fracture or lumbar sacral orthosis (LSO) after lumbar fusion.

For more information on back braces please see the following blog posts:

Is it bad to use a back brace?

Should I be wearing a back brace if I have a disc injury?

Back braces are not usually worn in bed because there are less forces being applied across the surgical site and less chance of damaging the fusion and instrumentation holding the spine together.

For more information please Schedule an Appointment.   Good Luck!