Category: Spine Surgery | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: January 5, 2026
When exploring Google Trends in an effort to come up with a blog topic, we noticed the title of this article was a popular search. Why do so many back surgeries fail? That’s an interesting query, because most back surgeries go exactly as planned. Of course, no surgery has a 100 percent success rate, but the idea that spine surgery oftentimes fails is a misnomer. Once again, the majority of spine surgeries are considered a success.
However, when spine surgery doesn’t go as planned, it typically does so because of a few specific reasons. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the common reasons why spine surgery fails.
Why Does Spine Surgery Fail?
Spine surgery can fail for a number of reasons, only some of which are within your control. We recommend focusing on the controllable factors so that you can reduce your likelihood of dealing with a failed spine surgery. Let’s look at some of those factors:
- Patient Health – While patient health isn’t totally within your control, you can certainly work to become a healthier version of yourself prior to your operation. Sometimes spine surgeries don’t go as planned simply because the body doesn’t respond to the operation as hoped due in part to health complications or age-related factors. Strive to become a healthier version of yourself before your spine surgery.
- Patient Rehab Commitment – Spine surgery can fail even if the operation itself goes as planned because an issue develops during rehab. If you don’t really commit to your recovery plan, you skip your physical therapy session or your partake in activities that you haven’t yet been cleared for and suffer a setback, you may not achieve the results you had hoped for with your procedure. Be sure that you commit to following your rehabilitation plan until you’ve reached maximum recovery.
- Scar Tissue Formation – As the wound site heals, scar tissue will form, and sometimes this new tissue can envelop nearby nerves or cause problems with the surgical site. Physical therapy and other techniques during your rehabilitation can help to break up large scar tissue formations and reduce your likelihood of the new skin causing problems for your spine.
- Surgeon Error – In rare instances, the surgeon may make a mistake during the course of your procedure. While this seems like it is out of your control, it speaks to the importance of moving forward with a surgeon that you connect with and have confidence in to perform your procedure correctly.
- Hardware Failure – Sometimes a surgery fails because of an issue with the hardware that is inserted into your spine. If it is not positioned correctly, it shifts at some point or the hardware breaks down over time, it can cause the procedure to fail.
- Incorrect Diagnosis – Perhaps the issue that was corrected was not the underlying problem with your spine. There are so many structures in the spine, and many conditions produce similar symptoms, so it’s possible that you were actually dealing with a different concern. Getting a second diagnosis can help ensure the problem is correctly diagnosed.
Remember, most spine surgeries and recovery programs go exactly as intended, so don’t assume that your procedure will go awry. Find a provider you have faith in, work to become a healthier version of yourself prior to your operation and commit to your recovery plan after surgery, and you’ll be giving yourself the best chance at a successful surgery. For more information, or to talk to a specialist about your back issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today at (651) 430-3800.
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