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  • thoroscapy

    hi
    sorry if i spelt thoroscapy wrong, but i have a question for whomever had this done. As some of you know already my daughter is having this done along with the rods. A question that i never asked the surgeon and it dawned on me today, is this done in the same incision as the rods or will she have a separate scar from it???? I didn't even ask, i just assumed it was the one incision and i'm really worried now that it's not.
    thanks
    jennifer

  • #2
    Hi Jennifer...

    It's a thoracoplasty. And, it can be done from the front or the back. It's usually not a separate incision, but you should check with the surgeon to be sure.

    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

    Comment


    • #3
      thoracoplasty

      thanks linda on the correct spelling of thoracoplasty. I couldn't remember how to spell it and didn't feel like looking it up. I am a bit releaved that it can be done without having another incision made, he did not mention another incision so i am assuming it will be done from the back, but i will ask. thank you
      jennifer

      Comment


      • #4
        Jennifer - will your daughter be having posterior-only surgery? or anterior and posterior surgery? At least two incisions are done when doing an A/P surgery.

        I'll be interested in hearing how the thoracoplasty goes for your daughter. That may be something we will be looking into for Braydon at a later date.

        Best wishes!
        Carmell
        mom to Kara, idiopathic scoliosis, Blake 19, GERD and Braydon 14, VACTERL, GERD, DGE, VEPTR #137, thoracic insufficiency, rib anomalies, congenital scoliosis, missing coccyx, fatty filum/TC, anal stenosis, horseshoe kidney, dbl ureter in left kidney, ureterocele, kidney reflux, neurogenic bladder, bilateral hip dysplasia, right leg/foot dyplasia, tibial torsion, clubfoot with 8 toes, pes cavus, single umblilical artery, etc. http://carmellb-ivil.tripod.com/myfamily/

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        • #5
          thoracoplasty

          hi carmell
          she will be having her surgery done posterior and i will definitely let you know how it goes. She is only 14 and her rib hump is pretty severe looking. I wish she didn't need it, but she does. I hear that causes alot of pain afterwards. I am very nervous. Monday she has pretests and next thursday blood donatation and then surgery is 2 weeks away. I am starting to get butterflys.
          jennifer

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          • #6
            Hi Jennifer,
            My daughter had a thoracoplasty with her spinal fusion. She complained of her ribs hurting while in the hospital when she tried do her breathing exercises. For about 2 weeks after she came home she mentioned sometimes when she was turning in bed that it hurt. It was a soreness more than a sever pain. After that she never complained. She had a pretty severe rib hump prior to surgery and after it was not noticeable at all. It is really amazing. Some surgeons do it in seperate surgeries but I would recommend getting it all over at once. Good Luck and try to think positive. I feel for you and the place you are in right now. Try and take all these positive experiences to heart and hang in there. Your daughter will soon be on her road to recovery and this unnerving time will be behind you.

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            • #7
              thoroscapy

              hi peggy,
              thanks for writing. It is so comforting when i hear others who did so well. It really gives me hope. My daughter is having the procedure done at the same time, but i recently saw a picture of someone's scar from surgery and they had two scars, one by the ribs and one down the back. I really should call the drs office, because now i am worried that she will have two scars, i thought there would only be one. Does your daughter have one or two?
              please write back when you get a chance
              jennifer

              Comment


              • #8
                My daughter had a double fusion from T4 to L4. (5 months ago)Her scar is just over 21 inches long and I would say about 1/4 of an inch wide. She also had thorocoplasty done at the same time, with no extra incision. I have posted quite a bit on this but if you have any questions I am happy to try and help.
                Best wishes.
                Cheryl.

                Comment


                • #9
                  thoroscapy

                  hi cheryl
                  i will try and find some of your earlier posts to read. I am worried that there will be two scars because i saw a picture of a girl who had two scars. I am really hoping they only have to make 1 incision. I will try and find out this week from the surgeon.
                  thanks jennifer

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Jennifer,
                    Lacey also has a large hump on her right upper back/shoulder area. From my reading here, i knew of the procedure of which you speak. So, I asked our Dr. what he thinks and how it would be done.
                    He said, since her posterior incision will not be near enough to the rib hump, she WOULD need a separate incision. He explained what others have voiced here, another site to heal from, more pain, possible lung puncturing, possible breathing problems for an extended time...
                    He dissuaded us. She already will have 2 very major incision sites healing at the same time, due to taking her bone graft from her pelvic area. The 3rd would be just too much.
                    I asked what to expect post surgery, as far as the hump goes. He explained that the hump would correct in conjuction with the curve. So, if her curve is at 10-20 degrres eventually, her hump willl be much improved.
                    We MAY have gone ahead with the thoracoplasty tho, if it were going to be thru the same incision. I think that's important to find out for sure huh?
                    Hang in there, Jen!
                    Daughter, Lacey has an upper curve of about 55 degrees. She will have posterior surgery in June.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Amy...

                      I'd encourage you to get a second opinion. My understanding is that the pieces of ribs are removed close to the spine, not at the peak of the rib hump, so there should be no need for a separate incision. Most scoliosis specialists don't perform thoracoplasties, at least on a routine basis. If the cosmetic result is important to you, I'd encourage you to find a doctor who routinely performs thoracoplasties.

                      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

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        thoroscapy

                        amymichele,
                        that is very interesting what your dr. said. I think i'm going to call the office to find out what correction she would have without having the ribs removed. I'm like a wreck about this now. Just another thing to add to the list. I know that instead of using the bone from the hip he said he would be using it from the rib instead so if they do need to my another incision for the rib that would only be 2 incisions. I shouldn't say only, 2 is quite enough.
                        I'm going to look into this further. I'll let you know what they say.
                        jennifer

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          thoroscapy

                          hi linda,
                          thanks for your input on this. My daughter as i have previously posted is having surgery by dr. boachie, whom i know you have heard of. I am assuming he performs these routinely?? I hope! I guess i should call him, because of amymichele's post i am nervous now about all the complications she mentioned from her dr.
                          jennifer

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hi Jennifer...

                            Wow. I'm really surprised that he said she'd need a separate incision. You can't get much better than Dr. Boachie, so I would definitely go by what he says.

                            Prior to surgery, you'll probably be asked to sign a disclosure that lists most of the potential complications. You can request to see that document early. While there are many many complications to such a big surgery, the vast majority of teen patients have no major complications. I have links to a bunch of published article abstracts that may be of interest to you, on my website at:

                            http://www.scoliosislinks.com/Outcomes.htm

                            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

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Amber only had the one incision and she had 5 ribs done. The were done from the spine and at one of our check up visits the doctor explained to us about how they grow back. I had seen a bit of a lump in Ambers upper back near her shoulder blade. This was actually one of the ribs growing back.
                              Cheryl

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