Number of screws/hooks used

[CamsMomKelly]

I have been looking at alot of the pics people post with there hardware. Do you know how they determine how many screws or hooks to use? I see some people have one like every verterbrae and some skip over? Does depending on how many screws you have make the pain less or fusion better? Do you know before the surgery how many they plan on??? any thoughts appreciated...

[mbeckoff]

I am fused from T3- S1 and have 32 screws.
I do not know whether or not my doctor knew this number before surgery or not
I do not know whether or not it has anything to do with my pain level or not

Melissa

[LisaB]

At my last appointment Dr. B had me get another thoracic xray so he could see how many pedicles he could use for surgery. I don't quite know what that means and thought I would ask when he details my surgery plan the day before when I meet with him. Maybe if they're too small they can't use them? I know they have different size screws though. Maybe Linda can shed some light.

[Snoopy]

At my last appointment Dr. B had me get another thoracic xray so he could see how many pedicles he could use for surgery. I don't quite know what that means and thought I would ask when he details my surgery plan the day before when I meet with him. Maybe if they're too small they can't use them? I know they have different size screws though. Maybe Linda can shed some light.

My daughter is fused from T3-L2 and she doesn't have any screws because her pedicles were too small.

Mary Lou

[CamsMomKelly]

Snoopy, may i ask how old your daughter was at fusion? how does that work if there no screws?
I know they told me they have different size screws that my son would have smaller then what a adult has. We see Bridwell Monday I was just curious if anyone else knew...
Thanks

[Sherie]

This was a question I posed to Dr. Lenke prior to surgery, he told me he would use screws at every pedicle.

[LisaB]

Bernie sent me an email late today about something before my surgery so I asked her about this. She said that sometimes pedicles are too small to use with screws. If they are healthy and the right size, they use them. I didn't ask her what they used instead but I read that hooks are an option if pedicle screws don't work.

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

It mostly depends on the surgeon's preference. While screws at almost every level is probably what we see most, there are occasions where screws can't be used. One of the surgeons I work with has a strong preference for wires in the thoracic spine for many patients.

As with most things having to do with selection of implants, I think it's nothing something about which we need to be concerned if we pick a very experienced surgeon.

--Linda

[Snoopy]

Snoopy, may i ask how old your daughter was at fusion? how does that work if there no screws?
I know they told me they have different size screws that my son would have smaller then what a adult has. We see Bridwell Monday I was just curious if anyone else knew...
Thanks

Hi Kelly,

Jamie was 13 y.o. when she had surgery and they used wires, hooks and monosegmental claws.

Mary Lou

[Pooka1]

My one daughter has two screws at almost every level except she has a hook on the top left (she had a right T curve).

The other daughter was similar but had less screws, some levels had one or no screw, but still the hook at the top left.

I am guessing the more screws one the one kid were required to do more de-rotation. The other kid was nowhere near as rotated and ended up with many less screws while still being completely de-rotated. The kid with the many screws is only about 95% de-rotated even with all the screws though it is still a great result, especially considering what the surgeon started with. That's my guess anyway.

[jesscv]

I'm fused T2-L1 and have 23 screws. There is a gap or two in some areas, not really sure why...

[titaniumed]

This is one reason why they might miss a screw.

I have 33 screws. One level has one screw as a clear trajectory was not obtainable in flouroscopy. That explains the odd number. My T7 was wedged pretty bad. My 6th screw on the right side is missing. See x-ray. If you zoom in you can see the wedge shape.
Ed

[kennedy]

I'm fused from T4 to L2 I have 10 scews and 5 hooks and 2 rods

[Nitram]

I'm fused T-10 - Sacrum and I believe I have 19 screws.

Nitram