LUMBAR FUSION

In many back surgeries, patients end up taking strong painkillers for days after the operation. This can be risky especially for those who already use opioids regularly. One new approach involves giving patients a small dose of ketamine during surgery instead of relying only on usual pain medicines.

Expandable interbody cages are becoming a go-to in spine surgery. They help fix disc height and alignment with less invasive procedures. But, there's a catch. Doctors worry about how well these cages hold up over time. A recent study looked at 40 patients who got these cages in their lower backs. T