harrington rods still in use?

[theizzard]

i just spoke to a friend of mine who some major back issues and after 6 failed surgeries they ended up putting harrington rods in in order to stabilize her spine. she said none of the other methods would fuse with her spine. i thought they stopped using them so it was a big surprise to me. can anyone enlighten me about it?
avis

[Susie*Bee]

I think some people (incorrectly) use the term "Harrington rods" to mean rods, period. It makes it confusing. Maybe someone else knows more about it though...

[txmarinemom]

I think some people (incorrectly) use the term "Harrington rods" to mean rods, period. It makes it confusing. Maybe someone else knows more about it though...

I don't believe "Harrington" rods (from here in Houston, BTW ... by Paul Harrington and Jesse Dickson -the latter, my surgeons's ex partner before retirement) are used *anywhere* but 3rd world countries.

If anyone offers them to you in a developed country? RUN.

[Qikdraw]

So what type of rods do they use now? Do they still use Luque rods like mine? Or are those gone the way of the dodo too?

Brad

[Karen Ocker]

I have Isola rods secured in place with pedicle screws. I am pain free.

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

The vast majority of posterior implants systems used for scoliosis are termed as "universal" implants. They all act pretty much the same way, with the differences being in the screws and/or hooks that attach the rods to the spine.

I've been told that, while Harrington rods aren't normally used for scoliosis surgeries in the U.S., there are actually times when they are the appropriate choice. They are in wide use in India, where they're being manufactured very inexpensively (yikes!).

--Linda

[theizzard]

thanks everyone for the replies. i just know that if they told me they were going to use harrington rods on me, i would probably bolt.
avis

[txmarinemom]

... I've been told that, while Harrington rods aren't normally used for scoliosis surgeries in the U.S., there are actually times when they are the appropriate choice. They are in wide use in India, where they're being manufactured very inexpensively (yikes!).

Linda, out of curiousity, under what circumstances would they ever be the appropriate choice? With the availability and success of modern segmental hardware, and the propensity of Harrington instrumentation to cause flatback,(even with the addition of Luque wires to assist in maintaining lordosis - which didn't help all that much) the option just seems sort of medieval, you know?

My curiousity really IS piqued now ... I'm going to have to do some reading.

Not like they weren't bad enough before (although the best option available - vs. NO hardware - when they debuted in the 50's), but can you imagine the QA on them now under the current manufacturing conditions?? Yikes, indeed!

I'd be very concerned to have a doctor offer them ...

Regards,
Pam

[Qikdraw]

and the propensity of Harrington instrumentation to cause flatback,(even with the addition of Luque wires to assist in maintaining lordosis - which didn't help all that much) the option just seems sort of medieval, you know?

My curiousity really IS piqued now ... I'm going to have to do some reading.

Ok, now my curiousity is REALLY piqued now...

I've always been told I have Luque rods, so is luque just the using of wires, or is it also the type of rods? I have the wires, but are the rods luque or harrington or what?

I'm so confused...

Brad

[LindaRacine]

Brad...

Luque rods are Harrington rods that are attached to the spine with wires instead of hooks.

Pam, I don't really have a clue about when Harrington rods might be appropriate, but if you want to check, I think it was John Pierre Farcy who mentioned it to me.

--Linda

[LindaRacine]

It wasn't Farcy, it was Francis Denis (mixed up the French names).

He states "I may still occasionally use a combination of Harrington rod and Luque wires to correct the most severe thoracic lordosis deformities where the bendability of the third generation rods does not allow as much correction as the combination of Harrington and Luque wire."

--Linda

[titaniumed]

here is a link, scroll down


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

[titaniumed]

Dr harrington and drawings

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

[titaniumed]

dr nuzzos site

This is a great site. Look at everything!!!!!!!
He would have been my Dr back in the late 70s but I chickened out.
Tons of info here, quite the man!






http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...US266%26sa%3DN

[Qikdraw]

Thanks Linda and Ed for the info. I understand what happened to me a bit more now.

Wow. After 25 years I am starting to see the light.

Brad