Guest guest Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 age 19, will be having revision surgery on Monday, Sept 13 at town University Hospital in Washington, D. C. will be fused T4 - L3 and it will be posterior with 2 stainless steel rods. Chris' Background: was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of 14 when he went for a sports physical. His curves were 28 thoracic and 40 thoracolumbar. After a year of bracing, the curves continued to progress and he had surgery at the age of 15. He was fused T11 - L2 anteriorly. After the surgery his thoracic dropped from 42 to 22 degrees and his thoracolumbar curve was fused to nearly zero degrees. The thoracic curve eventually 'settled' at 30 degrees. Last April, began to have severe and unrelenting lower back pain. After xrays, MRIs, CT Scans, discogram and many doc appointments for 2nd and 3rd opinions, including Dr. Betz at Shriners in Philadelphia, it was determined that the source of the pain was due to an incomplete fusion at L1/L2 and further curving below the rod. This contributed to his upper curve progressing within less than a year to 40 degrees in spite of his being skeletally mature. All surgeons basically had the same recommendation - to take the fusion one level lower to L3 and to fuse the thoracic curve because at its rate of curvature the probability of it continuing to curve was very high and if it wasn't taken care of at this time he would be back for more surgery within few years if not sooner. It has been a long, medical summer and naturally we are nervous, anxious, etc as I am sure you all can relate to but are very relieved that the source of the pain has been diagnosed, the resolution to his scoliosis condition is agreed upon and are onward to surgery...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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