Possible Surgical Complications

[susancook]

Linda, explain it to me! Susan

[susancook]

Hi Susan...

I'm unclear about the spinal cord injury. Is your surgeon saying that the injury was caused by the screw plowing through your bone? Or, was the screw placed badly in the first place? If the screw plowed through the bone, than the culprit is actually bone quality instead of surgery. BTW, proximal junctional failure is, essentially, PJK that requires treatment.

--Linda

Linda, as I understand it, the kyphosis increased and thus pulled away from the hardware. By pulling away, the screw went into the thecal sac since the screws are screwed into the vertebrae at an angle. The screw was placed correctly, but the kyphosis of course was not anticipated. Osteoporosis, of course doesn't help the situation. Susan

[LindaRacine]

Podium presentation on complications

Complications by Category.png

[ksmom0611]

I hate to add to the list of issues here, but I had severe bleeding during the surgery, losing over 5 liters of blood. My kidneys shut down and I was in the ICU for 9 days (don't remember much). Things finally started to improve, I was in the hospital another 5 days, and my kidney levels were close to normal at 1 month post-op. We were completely unprepared for this. How could you be? Just beware that sometimes, sometimes, issues can arise. This was the second time at a major NYC hospital that this had occurred - only the 2nd time over decades. Lucky me!

[LindaRacine]

It's already on the list (vascular).

[Back-out]

Susan Cook - Wow, in the worst sense

I had mild pulmonary atelectasis postop.
Susan

Referring to your surgical history and measurements.
What scares me is your measurements are almost the same as mine are now, to a T, including the DDD and stenosis. Except that my tentative plan plus neurological monkeying around, is to go all the way to the pelvis.

You didn't mention your surgeon (at least, I didn't find the name). Were all the surgeries by the same person, and do you think that might have been a factor in the problems?

If approved, I will be operated on by Frank Schwab at HSS.
Quite worried about some neurological issues affecting my excretory functions - will start a separate thread about my surgery.
So sorry for all your troubles! I seem to recall seeing your story on a "regrets for surgery" thread but I may misremember.

Amanda

[Back-out]

Susan, my measurements (with signature) are out of date.

Amanda

PS Hoping a duplicate entry (above) doesn't post too. Don't know what I did wrong.

[Jjohnsonphd]

I woke from surgery with my eyes unable to work at the same time. If I open them both up, one will laze to the side and I have double vision and blurry vision. I can see fine with squinting one eye shut. I still have this almost 5 weeks later and I am petrified. I am finally (barely) able to go see an opthamologist And should go sometime next week. He said he has heard of this lazy eye after back surgery. I will keep you all informed as I get an actual diagnosis. I was so worried about paralysis, I never saw vision issues as a threat. This is obviously a rare complication. If he tells me I need surgery, I may lose my mind! Ack. Breathe.
Jana

[susancook]

Referring to your surgical history and measurements.
What scares me is your measurements are almost the same as mine are now, to a T, including the DDD and stenosis. Except that my tentative plan plus neurological monkeying around, is to go all the way to the pelvis.

You didn't mention your surgeon (at least, I didn't find the name). Were all the surgeries by the same person, and do you think that might have been a factor in the problems?

If approved, I will be operated on by Frank Schwab at HSS.
Quite worried about some neurological issues affecting my excretory functions - will start a separate thread about my surgery.
So sorry for all your troubles! I seem to recall seeing your story on a "regrets for surgery" thread but I may misremember.

Amanda

Hi, Amanda: My shorthand seems to be confusing. My scoliosis was discovered when I was age 65, not 65 degrees. My curves were 24*, 36*. My fusion is to the pelvis.

Dr. Hu did my original surgery, Dr. Hiratzka my 2nd emergency surgery, and Dr. Hart my 3rd-5th surgeries.

I gratefully accept your "sorry for your troubles". I am in the "glad that I had surgery" section , but I have thought about posting in the "sorry" section, but I am grateful. If I had not had my original surgery, I would probably be on Dilaudid in a wheelchair by now. I was in a lot of pain and all of the alternative treatments did little to relieve the discomfort.

I wish you smooth sailing through your surgery.

Susan