What is an osseous fusion?

Answer 1

"Osseus fusion" means: osseus = bone, fusion = merged, or grown together... That would mean "two (or more) bones grown together"... As an example, the bones of the skull are separate and actually "float" to cover the braincase in newborns. That makes birth easier (if that's possible) because the skull is then "flexible" in a way. The bones grow together and fuse (osseous fussion) as the baby develops in its first year. An osseous fussion (usually spinal fusion) can be performed by surgeons to immobilize something like a pair of vertebrae that have had the intervening cartilage destroyed by disease or injury. The immobilized joint reduces overall mobility and may be uncomfortable or even painful, but it protects the spinal cord from damage should the vertebrae slip completely out of position. Paralysis and/or death may result from vertebral dislocation.