Common symptoms
- Comprehensive spine & neck evaluation
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- Conservative-first care plan tailored to your goals
- Coordinated specialty referrals when needed
- In-network insurance for most major carriers
Spinal Fusion
Surgery to join and stabilize spinal bones
Spinal fusion stabilizes vertebrae that have become unstable from degenerative disc disease, slipped vertebrae (spondylolisthesis), spinal stenosis, or trauma. LAOSS spine surgery, led by Dr. Siamak Yasmeh, uses minimally invasive approaches whenever they're appropriate, with the goal of relieving nerve pain and restoring stability so you can move more comfortably.
See a specialist this week
Board-certified surgeons and podiatrists across eight Los Angeles area neighborhoods.
Book a visitOr call (323) 264-7600
Key takeaways
- Spinal fusion is considered when a specific structural problem, such as instability, a slipped vertebra, or a fracture, keeps causing pain or nerve symptoms despite non-surgical care.
- Candidacy is confirmed with exam findings and imaging.
- Most plans include pre-op education and post-op rehab milestones.
- You get a clear return-to-work and activity timeline.
About spinal fusion
Spinal fusion is part of the spine & neck care we offer at LAOSS. Below, we walk through the anatomy involved, who benefits from this service, what it looks like at our clinics, and the recovery and risk considerations to weigh.
Our specialists move stepwise: start with the least-invasive option that fits, escalate only when it doesn't.
Watch: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
This surgery removes a herniated or degenerative vertebral disc in your neck and replaces it with a bone graft. This can relieve painful pressure on spinal nerves.
Inside the spine & neck.
The spine has 33 vertebrae stacked in five regions. Discs cushion them; the spinal cord and nerve roots run through the canal.
What we offer with spinal fusion.
Common causes
- New patients exploring an orthopedic complaint
- Existing LAOSS patients continuing care
- Patients seeking a second opinion
- Athletes and active adults of every age
How we start treatment
When you book with LAOSS for spinal fusion, here's the flow:
- Initial visit: detailed history, focused exam, on-site X-ray when needed
- Diagnosis & plan: most patients leave with imaging-confirmed answers and a written treatment plan
- Treatment: whether that's PT, an injection, or surgery, your specialist stays involved at every step
- Follow-up: measured benchmarks, direct line to your care team, plan adjustments as recovery progresses
Spine & neck care, conservative-first.
We start with the least-invasive option that fits, and escalate only when it doesn't.
Conservative care
Step 1Conservative care first
Non-surgical options designed to relieve pain, restore movement, and avoid the OR when possible.
- Physical therapy & core stabilization
- Image-guided epidural steroid injections
- Facet joint or medial branch blocks
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Chiropractic care
Surgical care
When neededSurgical options when needed
Minimally invasive and reconstructive procedures performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons.
- Microdiscectomy
- Laminectomy
- Cervical or lumbar spinal fusion
- Kyphoplasty
- Spinal cord stimulation
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Spine & neck care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our spine & neck specialists move stepwise: start with the least-invasive option that fits, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified specialists performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a spine & neck specialist is the next step.
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward this service being a good fit.
- Imaging shows instability, a slipped vertebra, a deformity, or a fracture that matches your symptoms
- Back or neck pain with arm or leg pain, numbness, or weakness from a pinched nerve
- Symptoms that limit walking, lifting, sleep, or work
- Physical therapy, medication, and injections have not given enough relief
- You are healthy enough for surgery and able to follow the recovery plan
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history: onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantGo to the emergency room or call 911 for loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or weakness in the arms or legs that is getting worse quickly. Seek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, new numbness, or any sign of infection (fever, increasing redness or swelling).
Your spine & neck recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line, but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
- Days 0 to 14
Right after care
In the first two weeks the focus is on wound healing, pain control, and short, frequent walks.
- Activity modification with clear do/don't guidance
- Pain control and incision care as directed
- Short walks several times a day, with no bending, lifting, or twisting
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
- Weeks 2 to 8
Rehabilitation
Walking distance builds while the fusion begins to heal. Physical therapy starts when your surgeon says the fusion is ready.
- Gradual increase in walking and light daily activity
- Lifting, bending, and twisting limits until your surgeon clears you
- Gentle core and posture strengthening once therapy begins
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
- Months 2+
Long-term care
A fusion takes months to become solid. Follow-up X-rays track bone healing while you return to work and activity in stages.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Home program tailored to your sport or job
- Follow-up X-rays to confirm the bones are fusing
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient. Informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Spine and neck considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the spine & neck. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Permanent loss of motion at the fused levels (expected)
- Incomplete relief of back or neck pain in some patients
- Nerve injury, spinal fluid leak, or blood clots (uncommon)
- Bones that do not fuse (nonunion) or added wear at the levels next to the fusion, which can lead to more surgery
Meet our spine & neck specialists
At LAOSS, our spine & neck specialists are board-certified and treat these problems every day. From minimally invasive techniques to coordinating your rehab, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. We have cared for Los Angeles patients since 2007, with one goal for each: less pain, better movement, and a return to the activities you love.
Specialists, not generalists.
Compare up to 34 providers
Accepting new patients
Jose Antonio Acosta, MD
Pain Management & Rehabilitation
Speaks English and Spanish
Habla español
- Glendale
- Encino
- Valencia
- +1 more
Reliable spinal fusion care starts here
With same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles-area offices, you'll never wait weeks or months for answers. Whether you need physical therapy, injections, or surgery, we plan it with you and coordinate each step.
Call or schedule online today to see a spine & neck specialist in Los Angeles.
Common questions
You asked. We answered.
- It is usually considered when pain or functional limits persist after non-surgical treatment and imaging supports a procedural solution.
Don't wait on pain.
Ready to find relief? Schedule a consultation at one of our eight Los Angeles-area locations today.
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21 specialists · 8 offices
Greater Los Angeles
On-site X-raySame visit
Most insurers acceptedIn-network