Anyone with anterior and posterior?

[pilar]

My doctor says that I need 2 surgeries. 1st anterior and 2nd posterior. I have a 90+ Thoracic and 70* compensatory lumbar. I have seen people with this kinds of curves with only posterior approach done. Also how is the anterior approach done? Am I going to have 2 big scars one up front and the other in the back? I will see my Doc tomorrow, but I just want to have some idea first so I can ask the right questions. Any experiences with this out there?
Thanks
Pilar

[theizzard]

Anterior and posterior is very common in these surgeries. I was supposed to have anterior but because I had an anterior surgery before, Dr. Rand was able to do what he needed to do for the front by reaching in from the back. I had two posteriors. MY anterior incision is a diagonal across my stomach. Some people have the incision located on the side. They have to reach in and get your organs out of the way in order to fix and stabilize the area. That's about the extent of my knowledge about it. They usually involve a specialist who works on moving your organs and then making sure everything is back in the right place and is functioning. Some people say that anterior is worse but I can't say. My anterior was only 3 levels and my last 2 posterior fusions were T6-pelvis and they hurt more than i could possibly have imagined. Other people will chime in and give you better information but I figured I would start you off. Good luck in choosing your surgeon and go in with questions on paper so you don't forget them.
avis

[summer]

I had both & my anterior scar is NOTHING like the posterior one. Maybe two inches.

[LindaRacine]

My doctor says that I need 2 surgeries. 1st anterior and 2nd posterior. I have a 90+ Thoracic and 70* compensatory lumbar. I have seen people with this kinds of curves with only posterior approach done. Also how is the anterior approach done? Am I going to have 2 big scars one up front and the other in the back? I will see my Doc tomorrow, but I just want to have some idea first so I can ask the right questions. Any experiences with this out there?
Thanks
Pilar

Hi Pilar...

I had both anterior and posterior surgeries. When you see the surgeon, ask him/her what the anterior scar will look like. I have a huge anterior incision, and was recently told that there's a lot of dissatisfaction with the large incisions because they very often lead to asymmetry of the abdominal muscles.

Regards,
Linda

[asccbodypro]

a/p approaches

I had 2 surgeries but for the first one they went in through my left side laterally. I have 2 scars that are about 4-5 inches long, one above the other and than there is one next to the 2 of those scars that is sort of a vertical angle from what I can tell in the mirror. I have seen some call this an anterior approach which never made sense to me since it's on the side, but hey, I am just the patient lol!

[Singer]

I also have a humongous anterior incision from my hip all the way up my side to my shoulder blade, with anterior and posterior rods. It does seem that surgeons are moving away form this sort of very invasive approach, although Dr. Boachie still favors it with his older patients with larger curves. He did an amazingly good job on me cosmetically.

[LindaRacine]

I had 2 surgeries but for the first one they went in through my left side laterally. I have 2 scars that are about 4-5 inches long, one above the other and than there is one next to the 2 of those scars that is sort of a vertical angle from what I can tell in the mirror. I have seen some call this an anterior approach which never made sense to me since it's on the side, but hey, I am just the patient lol!

Anterior refers to the front part of the spine.

[pilar]

Thanks for your responses guys!
I have my appointment tomorrow morning and I will ask this question to my Doc.
pilar

[titaniumed]

Pilar

I had an anterior (lumbar release) done. That's where they remove the discs and insert cages with collagen sponges to hold BMP for fusion. This was done from L1 to L5. They kept me on a respirator in ICU and 2 days later, started the posterior operation which is where they drill, ream, and tap and insert all the screws. After the screws are mounted, they then fit your rods that are custom bent into position.

Usually. they will use a vascular surgeon to "dig the hole" from the front. They use devices to hold organs off to the side and clear a path for your scoli surgeon. I have a vertical scar from my sternum that runs down around my belly button to below my waist. Its about 15 inches long. My scar on my back runs from my neck to my gluteus cleftus (that's the crack) I learned that one from Susie Bee.

Anterior can mean from the front or the sides. Ask your Dr about this. I'm not sure,but I think they choose depending on vertebrae size and screw thread engagement length. See what he says, and let us know.

Some A/P surgeries are staged with different time frames. Mine was 2 days apart, others a week like Susan's, some a month. This is another question that should be asked.

Find out what hardware system he will use?
Find out what fusion material he will use, allograft,autograft, or BMP?
If autograft, where will he get the bone, hip or ribs?
How much correction can I expect?
Do I need to donate blood?

I did not have a pca button after my surgery. They had me by the nurses station after ICU and my shots were every 4 hours. Ask him how they will control your pain afterwards?

Also, if they shoot some x-rays, ask them to burn a disc for you of them. Its great to have digital files of your x-rays as they can be e-mailed and they are as clear as they can get. I wish I had a disc of my pre-surgical spine.
Ed

[pilar]

This is awesome info Ed,
thanks!! I was just actually writing a list of questions for tomorrow!!!
I'm writing anything that comes to my mind, and also I'm surfing through the entire forum to see if I can get some other input for my, now 25 question, list.
Thanks!!
P.