On the hardware removal issue, if you talk to people who were initially fused without instrumentation, you will find some who had curves return. I believe if I remember correctly that this happened to Nanlo and Karen Ocker. That is why I don't plan to have my hardware removed, with the possible exception of the iliac screw that irritates me.
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age 48
80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.
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my question is about people who had hardware and are one or two years
out from their surgery...
i was told that once the spine is fused, it is fused, period...
and nothing will change it..
that is why i am confused about how it could re-curve AFTER it has
fully fused with the hardware in place...
i read what Linda Racine said about "...at a snail's pace.."
but am still very surprised that it could curve at all, after full fusion.
jess
Last edited by jrnyc; 06-19-2013, 02:20 PM.
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Originally posted by jrnyc View Postmy question is about people who had hardware and are one or two years
out from their surgery...
i was told that once the spine is fused, it is fused, period...
and nothing will change it..
that is why i am confused about how it could re-curve AFTER it has
fully fused with the hardware in place...
i read what Linda Racine said about "...at a snail's pace.."
but am still very surprised that it could curve at all, after full fusion.
jess
Be happy!
We don't know what tomorrow brings,
but we are alive today!
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Jess,
That's IF the hardware is removed. I believe if you have a solid fusion and hardware remains in place, it shouldn't re-curve. (Though Dr. Lenke tells me there is some "settling" that occurs in the first year or so. Aka why my back doesn't look as perfect as it did when I came home from the hospital.)
Evelynage 48
80* thoracolumbar; 40* thoracic
Reduced to ~16* thoracolumbar; ~0* thoracic
Surgery 3/14/12 with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis, T4 to S1 with pelvic fixation
Broken rods 12/1/19; scheduled for revision fusion L1-L3-4 with Dr. Lenke 2/4/2020
Not "confused" anymore, but don't know how to change my username.
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The person I know actually still has the hardware in, to my knowledge, and the rods eventually bent. She's a severe and exceptional case though AND it was the old Harrington hardware.Be happy!
We don't know what tomorrow brings,
but we are alive today!
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Originally posted by rohrer01 View PostThe person I know actually still has the hardware in, to my knowledge, and the rods eventually bent. She's a severe and exceptional case though AND it was the old Harrington hardware.
--LindaNever argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
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Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation
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Evelyn...i get it...
i do not understand why hardware removal is a problem AFTER fusion
has taken place...
how do fused bones move...???
that was my question...
i will never understand how that is possible...cell regeneration or no...
something fused shouldn't bend...doesn't make sense to me.
i thought one doesn't NEED the hardware after fusion.
jess
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Originally posted by LindaRacine View PostRohrer... I've actually never heard of this happening. There were some surgeons who bent Harrington rods before implanting them, and I'm betting that's what has actually happened. If this person has films of the rods when they were supposedly straight, and the now bent rods, I'd be really interested in seeing them.
--Linda
I'm not comfortable asking her for her films to post on the internet. I will try to talk to her when I'm in that neck of the woods and get the story first hand. That's the best I can offer.Last edited by rohrer01; 06-20-2013, 12:22 PM.Be happy!
We don't know what tomorrow brings,
but we are alive today!
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Originally posted by jrnyc View PostEvelyn...i get it...
i do not understand why hardware removal is a problem AFTER fusion
has taken place...
how do fused bones move...???
that was my question...
i will never understand how that is possible...cell regeneration or no...
something fused shouldn't bend...doesn't make sense to me.
i thought one doesn't NEED the hardware after fusion.
jess
If only he had used the system which allows screw removal without removing everything else then I wouldn't be in such a dilemma because I know its those darn screws giving me all this grief.Fused T2-L4 with costoplasty on 3/11/10
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Bluestone,
I didn't post this information to scare you out of having your hardware removed. You have to weigh the pros and cons in your own particular case. You can talk to your doctor about this dilemma that you have. Perhaps having the hardware out will improve your quality of life. I don't know what they do for people who progress again after fusion. There has to be something that they can do if it happens. I think it would depend on the expertise of the revision surgeon. If you are in that much pain, it would be worth talking to your doctor about. I'm sorry if I scared you. The case that I mentioned is very exceptional. I hope you find some relief one way or another.Be happy!
We don't know what tomorrow brings,
but we are alive today!
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Originally posted by rohrer01 View PostBluestone,
I didn't post this information to scare you out of having your hardware removed. You have to weigh the pros and cons in your own particular case. You can talk to your doctor about this dilemma that you have. Perhaps having the hardware out will improve your quality of life. I don't know what they do for people who progress again after fusion. There has to be something that they can do if it happens. I think it would depend on the expertise of the revision surgeon. If you are in that much pain, it would be worth talking to your doctor about. I'm sorry if I scared you. The case that I mentioned is very exceptional. I hope you find some relief one way or another.
I have being doing nothing but weigh the pros and cons. Its just so unfortunate for me that I need screws removing because they are a problem BUT my surgeon used a system which doesn't allow that. Removing all my hardware just seems so drastic and absolutely not what I want.
I've had a bad day today with impinging pain around the screws-its like a knife being pushed in and out and its a complete nuscience. I don't know how long will put up with it but part of me still hopes that in time it could settle. I'm now 2.5 years post op so maybe at my 3 year review it will be time to make that very difficult decision.Fused T2-L4 with costoplasty on 3/11/10
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I was wondering if any one can send a link to the possible problems after surgery. I know it is here but I can not find it. I need to send it on to someone and I don't want to print it out.T10-pelvis fusion 12/08
C5,6,7 fusion 9/10
T2--T10 fusion 2/11
C 4-5 fusion 11/14
Right scapulectomy 6/15
Right pectoralis major muscle transfer to scapula
To replace the action of Serratus Anterior muscle 3/16
Broken neck 9/28/2018
Emergency surgery posterior fusion C4- T3
Repeated 11/2018 because rods pulled apart added T2 fusion
Removal of partial right thoracic hardware 1/2020
Removal and replacement of C4-T10 hardware with C7 and T 1
Osteotomy
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Jackie, here is a thread.
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...liosis-surgery
There are also surgical books out there that explain in detail if needed.....If you need those links, I could do a little digging.
If you need “specific” info on anterior complications, I have a few surgical text books on this subject.
Pm me, let me know.
Ed49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
Pre surgery curves T70,L70
ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada
Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=
My x-rays
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214
http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258
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