Is the upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) and lower instrumented vertebrae (LIV) pre-determined before surgery?
A doctor that I consulted (not my surgeon, though) told me they adapt or change the number of vertebrae to fuse during surgery as they are adjusting or aligning the spine.
My surgeon told me I was to be fused from t3-t10 and that was the final result. I am glad he planned the surgery before and follow the rules to a T.
Has anyone woken up from surgery and told that more vertebrae were fused than the ones you were told?
I gave my surgeon total permission to do what he thought was the best, but I asked him first how many vertebrae were to be fused. I am concerned that he may not have done the best he could just to do what he promised me he would do.
I know spine surgery is complex and some surgeries won't go as planned. Thus, sometimes the surgeon has to change plans on the OR during surgery.
1. What was you experience? Did the surgeon told you the expected outcome in terms of vertebraes fused before surgery?
My surgeon did and he put the x-ray used to plan surgery with the marks of where he would put the screws, on the bag I brought home with the exams after discharge. The final result matched the sketch.
A doctor that I consulted (not my surgeon, though) told me they adapt or change the number of vertebrae to fuse during surgery as they are adjusting or aligning the spine.
My surgeon told me I was to be fused from t3-t10 and that was the final result. I am glad he planned the surgery before and follow the rules to a T.
Has anyone woken up from surgery and told that more vertebrae were fused than the ones you were told?
I gave my surgeon total permission to do what he thought was the best, but I asked him first how many vertebrae were to be fused. I am concerned that he may not have done the best he could just to do what he promised me he would do.
I know spine surgery is complex and some surgeries won't go as planned. Thus, sometimes the surgeon has to change plans on the OR during surgery.
1. What was you experience? Did the surgeon told you the expected outcome in terms of vertebraes fused before surgery?
My surgeon did and he put the x-ray used to plan surgery with the marks of where he would put the screws, on the bag I brought home with the exams after discharge. The final result matched the sketch.
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