Adjacent Segment Disease

Adjacent Segment Disease

Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD) occurs after a spinal fusion procedure, resulting in accelerated degeneration in the areas immediately above and below the fused segment. In a healthy spine, each spinal segment, including the disc and facet joints between two vertebrae, shares the responsibility of bearing and distributing motion. When a segment is fused, motion at that level is eliminated, forcing adjacent segments to absorb extra stress and movement.This increased strain can cause these neighboring segments to deteriorate faster, potentially leading to complications such as disc herniations, bone spurs, and spinal stenosis. Consequently, doctors often recommend additional fusion procedures to address these newly developed issues.