Re: Visit #3 with Lawrence Lenky- Wash U.- St. Louis

[Guest guest]

There is a nerve which, if accidentally cut, causes impotence. I

don't know how often this happens, but apparently often enough to be

a concern. (I had an A/P procedure and the nerve was *not* cut. My

doctor did warn me about the possibility. I'm such a daredevil...)

> Is it that males can't be given anterior fusions, or that it isn't

necessary? Maybe because of naturally bigger bones? Good question.

[Guest guest]

Which begs the question, is there an analogous nerve in women, which if cut

creates an analogous, yet -- uh -- less observable effect?

Re: Visit #3 with Lawrence Lenky- Wash U.- St. Louis

There is a nerve which, if accidentally cut, causes impotence. I

don't know how often this happens, but apparently often enough to be

a concern. (I had an A/P procedure and the nerve was *not* cut. My

doctor did warn me about the possibility. I'm such a daredevil...)

> Is it that males can't be given anterior fusions, or that it isn't

necessary? Maybe because of naturally bigger bones? Good question.

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

This is interesting, . I'm certainly glad you are fine.

Until Mark wrote about the gender issue, I had never before heard that anyone

would hesitate to use an anterior approach because a patient was male. I

thought the approach was determined by the specific deformity and what was

needed to correct it.

It is also news to me that Lenke and Bridwell perform more of " this type of

surgery " (?) than anyone else in the world! I wonder where that statistic comes

from and whether the majority of SRS members would agree. (Admittedly, I do

believe the St. Louis guys may be in the vanguard of pedicle subtraction

osteotomy, if that is what was referred to. They have published some

decent-sized series, although I am not exactly carefree and thrilled at the

prospect of undergoing this " hot and trendy " procedure myself a few weeks from

now, regardless of how many they may have done to date! And, of course, my

surgeon may not have done quite so many of them himself . . . .)

Again, I have heard much high praise for the group at Washington University

(from my own prospective revision surgeon, among others). But I still think we

need to demand a little more from some of the people we rely on to help us. Is

there no way that even a surgical practice can avoid making people wait

routinely for 3 hours (let alone 4) . . . .? To me, this is bad planning and

questionable practice management. Not to mention insulting and infuriating. I

am sorry to learn there are still some specialists around who apparently assume

that no one's time matters except theirs.

Re: Visit #3 with Lawrence Lenky- Wash U.- St. Louis

There is a nerve which, if accidentally cut, causes impotence. I

don't know how often this happens, but apparently often enough to be

a concern. (I had an A/P procedure and the nerve was *not* cut. My

doctor did warn me about the possibility. I'm such a daredevil...)

> Is it that males can't be given anterior fusions, or that it isn't

necessary? Maybe because of naturally bigger bones? Good question.

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to add my personal experience relative to Lenke, Bridwell and Wash.

U. after reading the posts by and . regarding having to wait

" routinely " for Dr. Lenke and their experience.

I had a consultation with Lenke in August for evaluation and discussion of

possible initial scoliosis correction. I believe I only waited about 45 min. I

realize that I could have been the exception as to wait time. However he spent

a great deal of time with me, carefully examining every MRI, x-ray, etc.,

allowing me to ask all questions I had, and explaining in depth the surgery he

suggested. He treated me with the utmost concern and respect and I am sure that

some of my questions must have seemed rather elementary to him. I felt that he

was genuinely concerned with me, that he carefully assessed what he called my

" complicated issues " and that he was willing to take whatever time I wanted to

insure that I left thoroughly understanding my problems, my options, etc.

I truly appreciated the time I had with him since my trip to St. Louis was over

400 miles.

In the defense of doctors and their staff, I would presume that scheduling is

very difficult since they have no way of knowing how much time each patient will

want or require. I had to wait much longer at HealthSouth, Birmingham....about

3-4 hours to see the orthopaedic there and as his nurse announced to the waiting

room where many had waited more than half the day, " please be patient and

remember that he is dealing with the spine " I for one truly appreciate a

doctor who is more interested in the patient than staying on schedule!!!

Regarding he and Bridwell " doing more of this then anyone in the world right

now, " I heard another orthopaedic doctor here in Alabama make just that

statement when referring to them. This doctor He had NO connection to Wash U.

but actually did his spine fellowship at Twin Cities in Minneapolis with

Lonstein who wrote a medical text regarding surgical procedures to correct

scoliosis.

This is just my two cents worth and as I say....I may have been the exception as

people's experiences can vary so much with the same doctor. As Lenke told me

when he noted how many doctor's opinions I had..... " you know what you are

dealing with now and you just have to decide who you feel comfortable with and

have confidence in. "

Re: Visit #3 with Lawrence Lenky- Wash U.- St.

Louis

There is a nerve which, if accidentally cut, causes impotence. I

don't know how often this happens, but apparently often enough to be

a concern. (I had an A/P procedure and the nerve was *not* cut. My

doctor did warn me about the possibility. I'm such a daredevil...)

> Is it that males can't be given anterior fusions, or that it isn't

necessary? Maybe because of naturally bigger bones? Good question.

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Re Lenke and Bridwell - I was scheduled for 8 am and had a 12:30 flight

out of the city. I told them this up front and they panicked and told

me to come early. Every time I spoke with them before my appt i

reminded them and they panicked anew. I ended up going at 7:30 and

making my flight. How they manage it I do not know. I considered it a

miracle that I got in and out as fast as I did, based on what i had

heard. I did tell the nurse who went over the proposed surgery with me

that the group had the reputation for the longest waits around. She

seemed concerned, but not surprised. However, I will say that everyone I

encountered there was extremely courteous and professional.

poetryperson wrote:

> This is interesting, . I'm certainly glad you are fine.

>

> Until Mark wrote about the gender issue, I had never before heard that

> anyone would hesitate to use an anterior approach because a patient

> was male. I thought the approach was determined by the specific

> deformity and what was needed to correct it.

>

> It is also news to me that Lenke and Bridwell perform more of " this

> type of surgery " (?) than anyone else in the world! I wonder where

> that statistic comes from and whether the majority of SRS members

> would agree. (Admittedly, I do believe the St. Louis guys may be in

> the vanguard of pedicle subtraction osteotomy, if that is what was

> referred to. They have published some decent-sized series, although I

> am not exactly carefree and thrilled at the prospect of undergoing

> this " hot and trendy " procedure myself a few weeks from now,

> regardless of how many they may have done to date! And, of course, my

> surgeon may not have done quite so many of them himself . . . .)

>

> Again, I have heard much high praise for the group at Washington

> University (from my own prospective revision surgeon, among others).

> But I still think we need to demand a little more from some of the

> people we rely on to help us. Is there no way that even a surgical

> practice can avoid making people wait routinely for 3 hours (let alone

> 4) . . . .? To me, this is bad planning and questionable practice

> management. Not to mention insulting and infuriating. I am sorry to

> learn there are still some specialists around who apparently assume

> that no one's time matters except theirs.

>

>

>

> Re: Visit #3 with Lawrence Lenky- Wash U.-

> St. Louis

>

>

> There is a nerve which, if accidentally cut, causes impotence. I

> don't know how often this happens, but apparently often enough to be

> a concern. (I had an A/P procedure and the nerve was *not* cut. My

> doctor did warn me about the possibility. I'm such a daredevil...)

>

>

>

>

> > Is it that males can't be given anterior fusions, or that it isn't

> necessary? Maybe because of naturally bigger bones? Good question.

>

>

>

> Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod

> Malalignment Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads

> or endorse any advertised products.

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Most good university clinics have way more patients than they can

actually fit into a normal day. I'm a patient in several different

clinics at UCSF, and routinely have to wait 2-4 hours to get in and

out, unless I'm one of the early morning appointments. Actually, I've

routinely had faster care in the spine clinic than in any of the other

clinics. Ocassionally, however, they get backed up, and it can take

several hours to actually see the attending doctor. In the SF area,

UCSF is as good as it gets for almost all areas of medicine. And, as

far as I know, they don't turn patients away. That means those of us

who want the best care have to wait. It's not uncommon for patients

to have to wait up to 6 months for their first appointment. As far as

having to wait on the day of the appointment, I've started looking at

it as quality reading time.

I don't know how the Washington University people know that they do

more spinal revision cases than anywhere else. I'm sure they do a LOT

of them, however, and that's what's really important. I hate to hear

anyone making claims that their clinic is the best, or does the most

of any surgery. It's usually not the truth, and it's entirely

unnecessary. Anyone doing a lot of revision surgeries should be

willing to give you an estimate of the actual number of such surgeries

performed overall, or at least in the past year.

Just my $.02.

--

> In the defense of doctors and their staff, I would presume that

scheduling is very difficult since they have no way of knowing how

much time each patient will want or require. I had to wait much

longer at HealthSouth, Birmingham....about 3-4 hours to see the

orthopaedic there and as his nurse announced to the waiting room where

many had waited more than half the day, " please be patient and

remember that he is dealing with the spine " I for one truly

appreciate a doctor who is more interested in the patient than staying

on schedule!!!

>

> Regarding he and Bridwell " doing more of this then anyone in the

world right now, " I heard another orthopaedic doctor here in Alabama

make just that statement when referring to them. This doctor He had

NO connection to Wash U. but actually did his spine fellowship at Twin

Cities in Minneapolis with Lonstein who wrote a medical text

regarding surgical procedures to correct scoliosis.

[Guest guest]

Interesting and worthwhile points in both these letters. Thanks for making

them.

Re: Visit #3 with Lawrence Lenky- Wash U.- St. Louis

Most good university clinics have way more patients than they can

actually fit into a normal day. I'm a patient in several different

clinics at UCSF, and routinely have to wait 2-4 hours to get in and

out, unless I'm one of the early morning appointments. Actually, I've

routinely had faster care in the spine clinic than in any of the other

clinics. Ocassionally, however, they get backed up, and it can take

several hours to actually see the attending doctor. In the SF area,

UCSF is as good as it gets for almost all areas of medicine. And, as

far as I know, they don't turn patients away. That means those of us

who want the best care have to wait. It's not uncommon for patients

to have to wait up to 6 months for their first appointment. As far as

having to wait on the day of the appointment, I've started looking at

it as quality reading time.

I don't know how the Washington University people know that they do

more spinal revision cases than anywhere else. I'm sure they do a LOT

of them, however, and that's what's really important. I hate to hear

anyone making claims that their clinic is the best, or does the most

of any surgery. It's usually not the truth, and it's entirely

unnecessary. Anyone doing a lot of revision surgeries should be

willing to give you an estimate of the actual number of such surgeries

performed overall, or at least in the past year.

Just my $.02.

--

> In the defense of doctors and their staff, I would presume that

scheduling is very difficult since they have no way of knowing how

much time each patient will want or require. I had to wait much

longer at HealthSouth, Birmingham....about 3-4 hours to see the

orthopaedic there and as his nurse announced to the waiting room where

many had waited more than half the day, " please be patient and

remember that he is dealing with the spine " I for one truly

appreciate a doctor who is more interested in the patient than staying

on schedule!!!

>

> Regarding he and Bridwell " doing more of this then anyone in the

world right now, " I heard another orthopaedic doctor here in Alabama

make just that statement when referring to them. This doctor He had

NO connection to Wash U. but actually did his spine fellowship at Twin

Cities in Minneapolis with Lonstein who wrote a medical text

regarding surgical procedures to correct scoliosis.

Support for scoliosis-surgery veterans with Harrington Rod Malalignment

Syndrome. Not medical advice. Group does not control ads or endorse any

advertised products.