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  • Possible Surgery Complications

    Hi all,
    I'm one week out from my surgery. I'm very nervous...This is morbid, but I'm wondering about serious complications. How often does one "die" during this surgery? What about paralization? Of course i'm aware that every surgery poses risks. I asked my surgeon if he's had anyone die on him and he very honestly told me only once. he said this was a complication regarding this patients heart (an unknown condition to the patient). Do you guys know of anyone having serious implications with this surgery?
    Thanks....Trying to be positive, but "freaking out" all the same...

  • #2
    Hi Dom,

    You have already done the best thing by asking your Dr. those questions!!! And it's wonderful that he had the integrity to tell you the truth.

    It is so common and normal for you to feel the way you are right now. Scared to death, worried and probably have hundreds of thoughts going through your head. You are not alone, most of us here have had the same fears.

    All surgeries have some type of risk, but with the medical technoligies that keep improving from year to year, is somewhat comforting.

    Never forget there are no stupid questions here, and any fear or concern with never seem stupid to any of us. We have all have the same feeling at one time or another.

    Keep up the questions,
    Shari
    Last edited by Shari; 02-18-2010, 01:36 AM.

    Comment


    • #3
      This is a very difficult, nerve-wracking time and I can understand your thinking of the possible worst scenario. For myself, I updated my Will but it did not play on my mind. I knew I was in good health and I also knew that dying during surgery was a very tiny risk. The risk of paralysis is only fractionally higher. I believed the odds were very much in my favour, as they are yours.

      The precautions they take to ensure they do not damage your spine include spinal cord monitoring. This was explained to me as being an alarm system which alerts the surgeon when he is too close for safety. My surgeon told me that the monitoring is done by a specialist who he employs on all his surgeries and is highly experienced and reliable. Monitoring the cord is her sole responsibility. He would not go ahead without her, he told me.

      They take your safety very seriously and will do the best they can to give you the best possible outcome.

      Try to think past the day of surgery, to your recovery. The surgery is just one day, and you'll sleep through most of it, after that, you're on the road to recovery, straighter, taller, healthier and happier!

      Good luck!
      Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
      Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
      T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
      Osteotomies and Laminectomies
      Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

      Comment


      • #4
        domkam, so sorry you are going through all this anxiety. I know from experience what is was like. I also had spinal cord monitoring and as Jen said, this is their sole duty during the op. Have you had other surgeries? Surgery in general and not just this surgery carry all types of risk. The risk of paralysis doesn't always have to be during spinal surgery. Complications with anaesthesia and other meds can cause paralysis or death as well. I don't say this to scare you but to help you if i can.
        Vali
        44 years young! now 45
        Surgery - June 1st, 2009
        Dr David Hall - Adelaide Spine Clinic
        St. Andrews Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
        Pre-op curve - 58 degree lumbar
        Post -op - 5 degrees
        T11 - S1 Posterior
        L4/5 - L5/S1 Anterior Fusion

        Comment


        • #5
          If you need this surgery, just put these possible complications aside. I know it is extremely difficult to not keep thinking about them, and they are a possibility, but you must believe they wont happen. There really isn't anything else you can do.

          Just make sure you have the best surgeon you can find and make peace with your friends and family, and draw strength from wherever you can.

          Stay +
          45L/40T
          Surgery 25/1/2010
          Australia

          Knowthyself

          Scoliosis Corrected 25/1/2010 by Dr Angus Gray, Prince of Wales Private Hospital, Sydney. Fused T3-L4.

          Comment


          • #6
            Thanks everyone for all the positive feedback....I'm so happy I found this forum!

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by domkam View Post
              Thanks everyone for all the positive feedback....I'm so happy I found this forum!
              Believe me, I had all those worries too. It is perfectly normal. I asked all kinds of nutty questions here and I outright asked my doctor as well. It was comforting to hear that he never lost or paralized a patient on the table.
              __________________________________________
              Debbe - 50 yrs old

              Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
              Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

              Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
              Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
              Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

              Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
              Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

              Comment


              • #8
                I, too, have had those questions, as well as multiple others, run through my head on occasion. But, from all the other surgeries I've had ( knee surgery X3, back surgery for slipped disc three years ago, cholecystectomy, hysterectomy) those kinds of thoughts just cannot weigh on you. There's absolutely nothing you can do about it - what happens happens I guess - but, one thing you can do is positive thoughts - recovering thoughts. That's what I will be (trying) think about....
                Rita Thompson
                Age 46
                Milwaukee Brace wearer for 3 years in childhood
                Surgery Mar 1st - 95 degree thoracic curve
                Surgery by Dr. Lenke, St. Louis, MO
                Post-surgery curve 25-30 degree

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi Domkam...

                  This is from an article on Spine Universe:

                  Surgical Risks
                  This topic is covered not to frighten, but to provide some information about the potential risks of surgery. Keep in mind, the majority of patients who undergo surgery do so without serious complications. Several potential problems are outlined below.

                  Neurological risk: The risk of injury to the spinal cord or nerves is very small; less than 0.5% in most cases. This risk is minimized by using spinal cord monitoring during surgery. A specialist continuously observes electrical signals in the spinal cord and nerves during surgery and reports changes to the surgeon. Spinal cord monitoring also allows the surgeon to assess how much curvature correction is safe. Both sensory and motor (movement) tracts of the spinal cord are monitored so that a complete picture is available to the surgeon almost instantaneously.

                  Bleeding: Bleeding occurs during all major surgery. However, bleeding is kept to a minimum by careful surgical technique and hypotensive anesthesia (low blood pressure anesthesia technique). Blood pressure is lowered but kept in a safe range for the patient. Cell saver is used to collect blood in the operative field, filter and wash it, and then immediately return it to the patient. If the patient donates blood before the surgery, they are unlikely to receive a blood transfusion from the community blood bank in most cases.

                  Infection: The risk of a wound infection is low. Antibiotics are given before, during and after surgery to minimize this risk. If an infection does develop, it might require an operative procedure to cleanse the wound followed by a period of antibiotics given intravenously and / or orally.

                  Instrumentation problems: The risk of an implant becoming loose or breaking is low. If such a problem developed, a relatively small procedure could be performed to revise the instrumentation.

                  Blood clots: Blood clots are uncommon after spine surgery. The concern about blood clots is their potential to dislodge and move to the lungs blocking normal oxygenation of the blood stream. Special stockings (TED stockings, Thrombo-Embolic Deterrent) and compression wraps are worn by the patient in the hospital to reduce the risk. Mobilizing the patient out of bed and having them exercise their legs when in bed and out also lowers this risk.

                  Anesthesia complications: The anesthesiologist speaks to the patient about their personal risk the day of surgery. If the patient has a significant medical condition, they will meet with the anesthesiologist before the surgery date.
                  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


                  • #10
                    dhugger, I haven't heard of all the negative outcomes you mentioned. Can you briefly explain what they are? (So we can have some more things to worry about? - Just kidding!) Joy

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Sorry I reversed your initials! It's too late for me to be typing, I guess.

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                      • #12
                        Two comments on hdugger's post:

                        Pseudarthrosis is the same thing as failure to fuse.

                        And, I believe the vast majority of people with proximal junctional kyphosis will never require revision.
                        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


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by hdugger
                          This - [url]
                          I'm not seeing much description of infection around the instrumentation. Maybe I'm overestimating that risk? I thought I'd seen, somewhere, that that was the most common complication.
                          My surgeon told me the risk of infection was 1%. I can't remember if that was HIS rate for his patients, or all the dr.'s at his practice, or the hospital, or overall patients everywhere.
                          __________________________________________
                          Debbe - 50 yrs old

                          Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
                          Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

                          Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
                          Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
                          Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

                          Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
                          Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            just to clarify, sagittal imbalance is actually when you're not balanced vertically from the top to the bottom of your body - not from front to back, as stated on a previous post.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Dr. Lonner said that there is a risk of infection, that he has had them. ("We all have," were his exact words.) He said that if that happens he may have to go back in and clean it out. He didn't mention the other problems you spoke about. I suppose I'll ask when I see him next. Take care, Joy

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