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The information on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, legal, or financial advice. Always consult a health provider, legal counsel, or financial professional if you have questions or concerns. The use of the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship between Surgency and you.
Surgency is a free resource for Canadian patients and caregivers. Private pathways Canadian physician in the public system to help you find the right surgeon for your needs.
As a family doctor in the public system, I believe transparency is a form of care. I created Surgency to help my patients struggling on long waitlists who wanted to understand all their options for timely medical attention.
Surgency is a free resource designed to empower and educate—helping you understand private pathways and find accredited surgeons within Canada. I hope Surgency brings you clarity.
Dr. Sean Haffey
Spinal fusion is surgery that joins two or more vertebrae so they move as one solid unit. Think of it like bridging a wobbly section of the spine to stop painful motion and protect nerves.
The surgeon reaches the problem level from the back, front, or side of your spine, clears space around the nerves if needed, and prepares the bone surfaces so they’ll grow together. Bone graft (your own bone, donor bone, or a bone‑substitute) is placed between the vertebrae, often inside a spacer cage. Metal screws and rods (or plates) hold everything steady while new bone grows across the gap.
Why do it? Fusion is used for problems caused by instability or deformity, such as a slipped vertebra (spondylolisthesis), certain fractures, spinal deformities like scoliosis, or painful disc collapse and arthritis that keep irritating nearby nerves. Unlike a disc replacement, fusion sacrifices motion at that level to gain stability and relieve nerve pressure. Surgeons choose the approach (posterior, anterior, lateral) and the specific technique (TLIF, PLIF, ALIF, LLIF) based on your anatomy, the exact problem, and which route offers the safest, most direct path to stabilize the spine.
Spinal fusion surgery times vary considerably depending on the procedure (single-level lumbar fusion, lateral fusion, multi-level fusion, anterior lumbar fusion), ranging between 2 and 6+ hours.
Add extra time at the centre for check‑in, anaesthesia, and recovery. Some cases stay overnight or a few days.
Check‑in and marking
Anaesthesia
Position and prep
Access (approach)
Decompression (if needed)
Prepare the disc space
Place cage and bone graft
Screws and rods/plate
Rinse and check
Close up
Wake‑up and instructions
A consultation is where we decide whether spinal fusion is truly necessary.
We look carefully at your imaging, discuss how your symptoms affect your day-to-day life, and review all reasonable treatment options. The goal is to make sure surgery is recommended only when it’s likely to provide real, lasting benefit.
Dr. Heran sees patients from all over the country in Vancouver, BC. Visit his profile.
Every spine is different—follow your surgeon’s plan. Steady, consistent progress beats pushing too hard.
Milestones and X‑rays vary by case (level, approach, bone quality). Your surgeon will set the pace for driving, return to school/work, and lifting limits.
Spinal fusion is a major surgery, and the costs vary drastically depending on levels fused (one vs multiple), approach (TLIF/PLIF/ALIF/LLIF), whether decompression is added, implant choices, length of stay, and surgeon/centre experience. Always ask for a written, itemized quote.
In Canada, private clinics charge: $25,000 - $75,000+ for spinal fusion surgery. However, in multi-level cases with large deformities, costs can exceed $100,000.
In the United States, costs range between CA$90,000 to CA$200,000+.
Choosing your surgeon is a major benefit of pursuing private surgery, here's how to choose wisely.
Experience and volume
Credentials and training
Outcomes and safety
Indications and alternatives
Surgical plan and techniques
Imaging and planning
Facility accreditation
Rehab integration
Pricing transparency
Spinal fusion joins two or more vertebrae so they move as one solid unit. It’s mainly for stability and nerve relief—not just generic back pain.
Fusion makes sense when there’s a specific, proven source of painful instability or deformity that hasn’t improved with solid non‑surgical care, and imaging clearly supports it. A high‑volume spine surgeon (ortho or neuro) can confirm fit and map the plan around your goals.
Yes and no—you can reach out to any of the private surgeons listed on Surgency without a referral. Their intake teams are happy to answer questions, explain what they treat, share pricing ranges, and walk you through next steps.
However, to book a formal consultation with the surgeon, you'll typically need a referral from your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Don't have one? Many of the clinics can help coordinate a virtual GP appointment to get the referral paperwork sorted. All surgeons listed on Surgency offer virtual initial consultations, so you don't need to travel until you and the surgeon have agreed on a plan.
Before your consultation, expect the clinic to request relevant medical records and recent diagnostic imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, lab work, etc.). Having these ready speeds up the process and lets the surgeon give you specific guidance on your very first call.
Your surgeon’s instructions come first—follow their plan if it differs.
Surgency is free for patients, funded for by surgeons.
Surgeons—who meet our listing criteria—pay a flat fee to list on the Surgency platform. To maintain objectivity, there are no commissions, referral fees, nor any ranking or recommending one surgeon over another.
Surgency is patient-first. Our goal is to make the process of finding a private surgeon as simple as possible. You choose who to contact. Learn more in our Advertising Policy.
Your personal risk depends on your health, bone quality, which levels are fused, the approach (TLIF/PLIF/ALIF/LLIF), how long the surgery takes, and how closely you follow after‑care. Discuss your specific risks with your spine surgeon.
Spinal fusion is generally safe and effective when clearly indicated. Most issues are mild and short‑term; bigger concerns include infection, blood clots, non‑union, and adjacent level stress. An experienced spine surgeon will explain which risks apply to you and how they’ll minimise them.
Your situation depends on how severe your symptoms are, what imaging shows (instability, slipped vertebra, severe disc collapse, nerve compression, deformity), your daily demands (school/work/sport), and how well non‑surgical care is working. Talk specifics with your spine surgeon.
Progressive pain and loss of function
Worsening nerve problems
Structural progression
Lower quality of life and deconditioning
Harder surgery and recovery later
Medication‑related downsides
If instability or deformity keeps irritating your nerves and holding back daily life despite solid non‑surgical care, waiting can mean more pain, more nerve irritation, and a tougher operation later. If symptoms are mild and steady, a careful non‑surgical plan with regular check‑ins can be safe. A high‑volume spine surgeon can help you choose the timing that best fits your goals.
If you still have questions, then feel free to contact us directly.
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With Canada's largest dynamic spinal stabilization practice & expertise in surgical Tarlov cysts, Dr. Heran provides advanced, minimally invasive relief for complex neck, back, and nerve conditions.
A leader in complex spinal reconstruction, serving as Chief of Spine Surgery at Hamilton Health Sciences, recognized for expertise in minimally invasive techniques and management of spinal deformities & oncology.
