Facts

Lumbar fusions are the most common type of fusion performed ~ 210,000 per year. 24,000 thoracic fusions and 157,000 cervical fusions are performed each year.

A 2008 analysis of spinal fusions in the United States reported the following characteristics:

Average age for someone undergoing a spinal fusion was 54.2 years - 53.3 years for primary cervical fusions, 42.7 years for primary thoracic fusions, and 56.3 years for primary lumbar fusions.

Average length of hospital stay was 3.7 days - 2.7 days for primary cervical fusion, 8.5 days for primary thoracic fusion, and 3.9 days for primary lumbar fusion.