Tweet
are MRIs safe
I had a surgical steel heriington rod implanted in 1975 for my scoliosis in my lumbar spine. I have been having problems with my thorasic spine (compression fracture) and the doctor wants to do an MRI. Will there be ANY problems with the rod???
-
T12- L5 fusion 1975 - Rochester, NY
2002 removal of bottom of rod and extra fusion
3/1/11 C5-C6 disc replacement
Daughter - T7 - L3 fusion 2004
-
No. There have been many posts elsewhere in these forums from those of us who have had MRIs with spine implants. The implants will cause some distortion, but the levels above and below your fusion will probably be readable.
--LindaNever 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 -
Will the MRI cause my rod to move or cause me any pain? Will it heat up my rod? I was told 12 years ago that I should not have any MRIs because my rod is steel. I am scheduled to have my MRI on Moday 6/19 and I am very worried about it.T12- L5 fusion 1975 - Rochester, NY
2002 removal of bottom of rod and extra fusion
3/1/11 C5-C6 disc replacement
Daughter - T7 - L3 fusion 2004Comment
-
Spine. 1993 Mar 1;18(3):379-85. Related Articles, Links
Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the spine with metal implants. General safety and superior imaging with titanium.
Rupp R, Ebraheim NA, Savolaine ER, Jackson WT.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Ohio, Ohio.
We studied the cases of 15 patients who underwent postoperative magnetic resonance imaging evaluation after being treated with metal spinal implants. Spine stabilization was required in traumatic injuries for eight patients, cancer destruction in four patients, late cervical subluxation in one patient, spondylosis in one patient, and spondylolisthesis in one patient. A variety of stainless steel and titanium spinal implants were used. The images were evaluated for spinal and implant positioning and artifact production. Both stainless steel and titanium implants were imaged safely and there was no evidence of implant migration or local tissue-heating effect. The titanium spinal implants allowed postoperative spine imaging without the significant image distortion characteristic of the stainless steel implants. The stainless steel implants created significant artifact that impaired the usefulness of the magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.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
-
Rainbow,
I have had multiple MRI's and CT Scans, with and without contrast, without ever having any type of problem with the rods.SandyCComment
Comment