Guest guest Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 Hi Andra: Like in Oakland, I had my original fusion performed by Dr. R. Kirklin in San Francisco - an S curve fused from T5-T11 & correction from 60 Degrees to about 38 degrees. No rods, just lovely plaster body casts that were changed every three months for a total of one year. I could have opted for the Harrington rods (I'd had more correction with them), but the thought of metal in my body curled my toes. , remember those wheels? I spent three months, immediately post surgery, in a plaster body cast suspended between two bicycle rims (for mobility purposes). I still have photos of the entire sequence of events - all the casts, casting sessions, stretching rack, etc. He really was cutting edge in those days & I still think he was a great doctor, compared to how things were done decades before. Twenty years later, I had another doctor (Dr. Gray) go in and give me a titanium rod, as my curve was " settling out " too much. Dr. Gray was the assistant for Dr. - and we sometimes think my 1978 surgery may have been one of the first few he assisted with in '78. My fusion remained solid those 20 years, but like a soft spot on a baby's head, just never seemed to harden quite solid enough to prevent what I'll call " bone sag, " hence the rod for stability. As a result, I'm now fused T4-T12. Surgical techniques have vastly improved these days. Like Oakland - I'll never forget the old days! ...... in Santa Clara, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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