Had Cobalt Crome rods with Titanium Screws - is this common?

[Confusedmom]

I was told it is SAFE for you to have MRIs with stainless steel, but there is an area around the implants that won't be visible on the MRIs--it will be grayed out or blurry, I think. That's one reason some people get titanium, I think.

Evelyn

[debbei]

I was told it is SAFE for you to have MRIs with stainless steel, but there is an area around the implants that won't be visible on the MRIs--it will be grayed out or blurry, I think. That's one reason some people get titanium, I think.

Evelyn

I was told that as well, but that if they do the MRI with contrast, they can see what they need to. I have stainless. My doctor said he preferred it's properties over titanium.

[KathK]

Hi Jen,

My surgery was on 8/2 and Dr. Lenke used cobalt chrome rods and titanium screws on me. He told me that he uses these on his younger, more active patients. (I was happy to be considered in that group ).

[JenM]

Thanks for letting me know that, Kathy! I always wondered why it seems like everyone else has titanium rods or stainless steel and I received the cobalt chrome rods. I am 31 years old so that's probably why my dr. gave them to me.

Thanks!

Jen

[CamsMomKelly]

So my 11year old isnt young and active?

[KathK]

Kelly,

More than anything, I think the choice of rod material is the surgeon's current preference. I'm sure that you are confident in your son's surgeon (I would be with Dr. Bridwell), and so, you can be confident that he had his reasons for going with the rod material that he went with. I read in the Wolpart book that we shouldn't be too concerned with the choice of rod material. That's how I felt when Dr. Lenke said he would use cobalt chrome. I was not familiar with the material, but I assumed that if Dr. Lenke was confident with it and has used it for about 5 years that it would be fine.

[KathK]

Kelly,

I'm sorry, I said son, but I believe your child with scoliosis is a daughter. Also, I see that her surgery is still upcoming (not in the past).

I you send me a message, I can try to give you details about the central line experience at Barnes (but you may be at the children's hospital).

[CamsMomKelly]

Kath,
It is a boy, he is 11 yrs old , diagnosed at 4 with scolio, I did end up calling his neuro about the rods that was being planned and his neuro said they were ok... He is having his surgery at Childrens but I would like to hear about your expierence with the line
thanks

[Debra JGL]

Jen - Thanks for posting this. I got a chance to ask Dr. B and he said it was what he was planning on using for me. I hadn't heard of it before you mentioned it. So the will be one less surprise, but it sounds like a good thing.

[jesscv]

I had my surgery almost a year and a half ago (wow, time goes by so quickly!) when I was 25, and my surgeon, Dr. Shay Bess in Denver, used cobalt chrome rods and titanium screws on me. I was fused T2-L1. I haven't had any problems at all with my instrumentation - I feel great.