Info about revision surgical procedures

[sweetness514]

I have David K. Wolpert's book, and it is very informative, but as I'm getting surgery for a broken rod(among other things), I would like to know if there are other types of books explaining these revision procedures(especially hardware breakage and fusion problems), and what is best, since I want to get another rod installed instead of just taking it out, but I still have questions about the procedures and all the ways they can fix it. My ortho told me that I can decide what to do, but I'm not sure 100%, as I'm not a doctor :o

[LindaRacine]

Sweetness...

There are no books written for consumers on the topic of revision surgery. There are some textbooks for medical students that cover some of what you're looking for, but I don't think they'll be of any help. You may want to get a second opinion, which can give you a lot of information.

If all that needs to be done is remove the old rods, add fusion material and reinstrument, there's not really a lot of options.

Regards,

Linda

[sweetness514]

Ok, thanks. I thought maybe some links but think it's personal to every person and surgeon. I will talk to my surgeon on the morning of the surgery(as he told me), so we will discuss it even more there. He's the best in town and I already had other opinions, and he's the one who gave the most info, but I come up with new questions everyday :p . I prefer to put everything back the way it is, but I was wondering on a few issues but will ask him, he's already answered a lot. I have to give two units of blood, wich I think is a lot, since it's the same as my first surgery but this time I was told that the recycling machine won't be in the OR, since it's not used for smaller surgeries. Weird.

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

I always think it's best, if you trust the surgeon, to let them just do what they feel is the best.

Best of luck!

Regards,
Linda

[Gail]

Hello Sweetness,

I'm a little concerned that you have some questions for your surgeon and you will ask him these questions the morning of your surgery. In my opinion, that is a little too late. I would like to suggest that you set up another appt. or email your surgeon and ask all your questions before you get to the hospital.

Kindest Regards,
Gail

[sweetness514]

Thanks, mostly my questions are last minute jitters. He said that we could do three things; either take out the rod IF there is no pseudarthrosis(wich is unlikely), put a smaller one in and add fusion to the spot that COULD have a non union, OR take out the broken one and add a whole new one, wich is what I'm leaning toward since I dread any type of curve coming back. My questions are mostly about how the entire procedure would be, and he did answer most of those at our last appointment but I would like a refresher and with all the questions I did ask and the stress, some are forgotten :o

In Canada, it could be hard to reach him, but if I press I know I could. What he does with his patients is ask anything we want to know before the surgery(like the fact that I want dissolvable stitches, as he told me to remind him that morning), so it's fresh in his mind and we have a communication between us. Thank you for your concern, now all I need is to try to relax :rolleyes: