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  • Bone for fusion - any input

    I'm a fairly new member although I have been reading this board since my 15 year old son was diagnosed in June. (And, thanks Mary Lou for your response to my question regarding his doctor.)

    He is scheduled for surgery in November. My question is - what are your thoughts on the bone graft? Is it better to take bone from my son (doctor said he would take it from his pelvis) or to use "bone in a jar" (as the doctor calls it)?

    The doctor says he generally prefers to use a bone from the patient, but then recovery tends to be longer. So, he is not opposed to using sterilized bone that is not from my son.

    (Hope my terminology is correct. I'm still fairly new at this!)

    If you have any insights, I'd sure appreciate them.

    Thanks.

  • #2
    I tend to reserch my condition quite alot, and the reason doctors prefere to use bone from the patient is because it is less likely he would get an infection during the process. Hope I helped!
    40-50 upper curve

    20-30 lower curve

    surgery August 10!

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    • #3
      Bone from the patient 'takes' better than 'donor bone'. They used bone from my daughters hip (they also did thoracoplasty). I don't think her recovery to date has been much different to anyone elses.
      I hope this helps.
      Best wishes.
      Cheryl.

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Bill's Mom...

        Although there is a TINY risk of infection from donor bone, it's not something that I would personally worry about. (The donor bone is sterilized before it's used.) There is, as Cheryl mentioned, a higher risk that fusion won't take when donor bone is used.

        I would personally say that the scales are about balanced on this issue. If your son's surgeon has a clear preference, I'd definitely take that into consideration.

        Good luck!

        Regards,
        Linda
        Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        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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        • #5
          I had a bone taken from my hip/pelvis and was out of the hosptial in six days afterwards.I didnt know how less time I would have had in the hosptial with a donor bone.

          As for recovery at home,my back hurt more than anything and I didnt seem to notice anything wrong with my pelvis area.

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          • #6
            Thanks everyone for your responses. I really appreciate your insights.

            The doctor has pretty much said he doesn't really have a preference. My gut reaction is to use my son's bone. My husband's is to use donor. My son is totally into not thinking about it!

            We'll just continue to research.

            Thanks again.

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            • #7

              Own Bone: Best Match/Possibilty of taking BEST, all own
              body in fusion

              Cadaver Bone: Higher Risk it won't take, but no bone taken
              from you

              Own bone +Cadaver Bone: Not a good combination, has
              lowest chance of taking properly,
              not a good preference

              I agree with Linda, the scales are pretty balanced on this issue, really it comes down to often the surgeon's preference (ie my surgeon used cadaver bone for fusions over 8 vertebrae, where the surgeon who assisted him always uses the patient's bone when he does fusions) and also what the patient/parent feels comfortable with. The "pain" from the fusion afterwards seems to be the same whether own bone or cadaver bone is used.

              alison
              Last edited by Alison; 07-28-2004, 07:23 PM.

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              • #8
                own bone

                My daughter's surgery was in June. Due to her rib hump she had a thoracoplasty and her own bone was used in the fusion. Her doctor left it up to us as to whether they used her bone, hip graft or donor bone.

                Good luck!

                Comment


                • #9
                  My daughter's surgery was March 18, 2004 and the surgeon preferred to use donor bone. She is doing great and has one less scar. Several people on this board in the past have mentioned that the pain from the pelvic bone was as bad or worse than the fusion. We did not have a strong preference one way or the other so went along with the doctor's preference. I think it also may depend on the number of vertebrae fused and whether your child will be having any ribs removed, which could be used as fusion material for shorter fusions. Good luck.

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                  • #10
                    bone for fusion

                    hi paulasue
                    i have also heard that taking the bone for fusion does cause more pain. How is your daughter doing. we just scheduled surgery for our daughter for nov 3rd and they will be using bone from her rib for the fusion since she has a very large rib hump. I am very nervous and feel so bad that she has to go through this.

                    jennifer

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                    • #11
                      paulasue,

                      Thanks for your response. I'm beginning to lean more towards donor bone. My son is tall (5'11") and the fusion is going to be a long one. I hate to think how much bone they'd have to take off his hip.

                      jc3,
                      My son's surgery is scheduled for Nov. 3 also. We had tentatively scheduled the date at the last doctor's appointment, but we got the paperwork in the mail on Saturday and it made me cry all over again.

                      How long have you known about your daughter's scoliosis? (We discovered my son's in June. Surgery is the only option.) He's doing pretty well, actually, he apparently just doesn't think about it. (I wonder what that's like!) It's horrible to be going through this, but I am grateful for this board and the shared experience.

                      How old is your daughter? (My son is 15.) As a mom, I think I probably know how you're feeling. How's your daughter handling it? Let's keep in touch as the day approaches...

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        bone for fusion

                        hi billsmom
                        i can't believe that their surgeries are on the same date.
                        we found out about my daughter having scoliosis about 2 years ago, she is now 14. It was only 18 degrees when we found out, by the time we got picked a dr. and got an appointment which was four months later it was up to 24 degrees, which they suggested a brace. My daughter refused to wear it at the beginning and then finally started wearing it only to sleep. Every four month check up it would get worse and worse and here we are 2 years later with a 50 degree curve and a significant rib rotation, which is very noticable. It doesn't seem to bother her at all. She has a very negative attidute about having scoliosis and the whole surgery, but we know in the long run it is for the best.
                        i am also very grateful for this board, i don't know what i'd do without talking to all these other people going through the same thing. It is so scary the whole thing. She is also going to have ribs removed for her rib hump, which they will use for the fusion. The dr. said the surgery would take about 3 hours, which i thought would be alot longer.
                        I would definitely love to stay in touch through this and we can compare notes on recovery as well.
                        thanks for writing, write back. Tell me about your son, what is his curve, etc..
                        They do say that it is rarer for boys to get it and when they do it is usually found later, since they go through puberty later. I have a son and another daughter and i hope they don't have to go through all of this also.
                        write back
                        jennifer

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                        • #13
                          Hi, Jennifer,

                          My daughter is doing amazingly well - once she got past about two weeks post-op, she started an amazing rebound. Now, the main problem is keeping her from overdoing things - she feels pretty much like her old self, but in reality, the fusion is still fusing, so to speak, and I worry constantly about her doing stuff she shouldn't be doing yet. Other than that, life is pretty much back to normal (if "normal" is ever how you can describe life with a teenager - ha!). Keep the faith - one day you will be on the other side of this ordeal looking back. Paula

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                          • #14
                            Hi Ladies
                            finally getting around to checking back in here.
                            it's so nice to know this place is here, waiting, with such great advice and encouragement on every detail imaginable dealing w/ scoliosis.

                            We, will see Dr. again Oct 1. We've decided to try to schedule for as soon as possible...for many reasons.
                            So, Lacey MAY be having her surgery very near to the same time as Bill & your daughter, Jennifer. If so, we should most definitely 'make' them communicate here w/ each other before and after . They'd be a great source of strength for each other.

                            We, too, are wondering about the bone issue.
                            Again, this forum has been a good source of information.
                            We feel quite sure now of exactly what to ask him about.
                            He has not mentioned rib removal, but we have not talked details yet.

                            Sometimes I find myself matter-of-factly discussing the details of all this w/ someone, and just SHUDDER inside. We do what we have to do. But, this process we are about to enter is quite scary for me.
                            I have learned well how to cope w/ pain, physically and mentally.
                            But, she's only a child!
                            A child who has, thankfully, had very little extreme pain in her life.
                            She's remarkably healthy.
                            Which makes it all the harder to explain to her the huge importance of taking this step.
                            She's a great kid! With a big heart, and a fabulous sense of humor...that I know will serve her well in the months to come.

                            It's so good to vent these thoughts and anxieties here.

                            Talk to you soon, friends,
                            Amy
                            Daughter, Lacey has an upper curve of about 55 degrees. She will have posterior surgery in June.

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                            • #15
                              bone for fusion

                              paulasue
                              that is so great that your daughter is doing so well. I hope i can be on here posting that after my daughters surgery. we did meet a girl at the drs office the other day who was 3 weeks post op and she was doing amazingly well. She said she felt great and the mother was also complaing about her doing too much already. I think that will be a big fear of mine too after worring that she will get bumped or something before she is fused.
                              thanks for writing
                              jennifer

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