Tweet
Jimbo-as far as I know its not very common to break a rod, especially doing something so non-demanding. I hadn't really been worried about it before it happened, and my surgeon and the other surgeons, nurses, etc didn't seem to think it could possibly be broken, so I am assuming its not normal at all.
-
25 years old
double 70+ degree curves before surgery
Anterior on 11/11/08
Posterior on 12/2/08 with titanium rods
nearly perfect correction
fused t-10 to pelvis
with a hemi-vertebral osteotomy at L4
Broke right rod at L4-L5 on 06/26/09
Broke left rod on 10/24/09
Revision surgery on 11/5/09 with vitallium rods
Broke both rods again
Had posterior than anterior revisions on 03/11 at the Twin Cities Spine Center
Declared "FUSED" on 12/6/11 -
Rods break because they have a weak spot from stress. If there's an area of non-fusion, the rods are bent over and over again, every time their owner bends. Eventually, they break. This issue is commonly compared to a paperclip, which when bent over and over again, breaks.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 fixationComment
Comment