Spinal fusion is surgery which permanently connects two or more vertebrae in your spine, thereby stopping motion between them and reducing pain. During the operation, your surgeon places bone (or a bone-like material) between the space in the two spinal vertebrae. Metal plates are often used to hold the vertebrae together, so they can heal as one solid structure. Spinal fusion surgery usually takes between 3 and 7 hours, using general anaesthetic the whole time. The typical hospital stay is between 2 and 7 days.
You might need spinal fusion for:
Spinal fusions are controversial. Critics say there's little high-quality evidence that supports the use of the procedure for more back issues. Critics claim the treatment is expensive, often ineffective and that most back problems can be treated with less costly procedures. There is a lot of disagreement on this point, and the Medicare benefit for spinal fusions was almost amended in 2019 as a result. Be sure to do your own research before you make any major decisions.
In the public system, Medicare will cover the cost of medically necessary spinal surgery. You can find spinal surgery items within sub-group 17 (spinal surgery) of group T8 (surgical operations) on the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS). Item numbers 51011 to 51171 cover various spinal surgery operations, including spinal fusions. Costs vary depending on the surgery and surgeon but for a rough guide, item number 51013 has a fee of $2,430.55.
In a private hospital, Medicare will cover 75% of the MBS fee, with you and your private health care provider paying the rest. Fees in the private sector tend to be significantly higher than the public system, however. See the section on the cost of spinal fusion treatment for details.
You should be able to find cover for spinal fusion with all silver tier hospital policies under back, neck and spine. Silver-tier policies cost from around $25 a week. Most policies come with a 2-month waiting period, or 12-months if you have relevant pre-existing conditions.
Hospital treatment with private health insurance for back, neck and spine usually covers the investigation and treatment of the back, neck and spinal column, including spinal fusion. This includes sciatica, prolapsed or herniated disc, spinal disc replacement and spine curvature disorders such as scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis.
Here are a few policies from Finder partners that cover back, neck and spine in their treatments. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $90,000 income and living in Sydney.
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Spinal fusion in the private system without insurance costs from $25,000 to $58,000+. Surgeon's fees tend to be the main expense (from $14k to $35k+) but costs like hospital admission and anaesthetists also contribute. Here are some of the estimates we were able to find:
| Source | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medibank | $42,226 | Medibank's cost estimation comes from claims data from partner hospitals. It doesn't include additional out-patient costs. |
| HCF | $24,219 - $48,458 | HCF's cost estimate varies based on a range of gap options and whether a partner hospital is used. |
Before you agree to any complex procedure, make sure your health provider will cover you. Ask them about potential out-of-pocket expenses, such as consultation and anaesthesia fees. Be sure to ask for the MBS item number from the surgeon as well. That way, you'll have a good idea of any out-of-pocket expenses.
If you choose to go private, it's likely your health fund will have a No Gap scheme. Always ask the surgeon you use if they are participating in the scheme; this will keep out-of-pocket expenses to a minimum. Doctors' fees can vary significantly so it's smart to ask them about their fees before commencing treatment.
Because spinal fusion is a complex procedure, you may encounter out-of-pocket costs for an orthopaedic surgeon, specialist consultations, assistant surgeon, anaesthetist, pathologist and radiologist. Ask your health insurance provider about costs for these services before surgery.
You will probably need rehabilitation after spinal surgery and your activities should be limited for the first 6 months. Every surgeon will have slightly different post-op care to adhere to so be sure to follow your surgeon's advice. You shouldn't bend past 90 degrees, lift anything heavy at all and avoid twisting your back as much as possible. Physiotherapy is often an important part of the recovery process as well. You won't be allowed to drive for at least 6 weeks after surgery.
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