Post-Harrington Rod removal surgery

[Guest guest]

Last Thursday, on 9/11 I had my Harrington Rods removed by Dr. B. Tay

at UCSF. Previously I had posted questions to the group about what to

expect from such a procedure and had some very helpful answers. I

wanted to briefly share a few points from my procedure to help anyone

else with the same questions and extend the offer to exchange private

emails with anyone who has additional questions.

Status: Unmarried female, age 27. Harrington Rod placement done in

March 1992 at age 16. Fusion from T11 to L5. Pain associated with rods

in 1995. Full rod removal, 9/11/03.

The procedure took three hours. I was informed by Dr. Tay that if he

found any areas of spine that never healed properly from the first

fusion, he would refuse them and place much smaller instrumentation.

I also have a fused kyphosis curve at 70 degrees (considered the upper

limits of normal) that he would be willing to revise. I decided to

wait on any kyphosis surgery (too sudden, too much recovery) and see

how I tolerate the rod removal.

I went under at 1.30 pm. I was under the anaesthesia for a long time

and woke at 8 pm in ICU. The procedure went like textbook. The

fusion was 100% solid. I got to keep about one fourth of the hardware

(the rest was overgrown with tissue and bone) and I am fairly certain

that car engines are made of more advanced material than this.

Hospital stay was estimated to be five days. I was out in just over

48 hours. I had a PCA pain machine for the first 24 hours that I

hardly used, then switched to oral meds (Darvocet). Nursing staff was

young, cheerful and helpful and my pain was never more than 4 on a

scale of 1-10.

I had some trouble with nausea at home for the first day, but managed

to calm it. By day three at home I had kicked the constipation issue,

but that took a lot of effort. Pain meds do constipate people badly.

I can't take much of the Darvocet due to my stomach, so I break them

in half and only take them at night. Other than that, I am on Extra

Strength Tylenol.

I will be back to work (computer job) next week. I pace around my

house a lot and lay on my sides. Chairs are a little rough for long

amounts of time. The wound is sealed with dissolvable sutures and

steri strips that will fall off in about two weeks with normal

showering. Laughing is a little painful so I have to be careful about

watching comedies.

Other than that, I am tip top. No complications to report. I set

aside two units of my own blood and two from blood bank to use if

needed. None were needed.

I know not many of you face the full removal of Harrington Rods, but

if this is your case and you do not require a revision surgery, know

that people do heal very quickly.

Best to all,

Amy in Santa Cruz