Guest guest Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Hi Kelley, I live in northern VA and have never heard this name before. I would definitely ask to talk to 3 people that have had revision with him. My first surgeon at Hopkins was very nice and explained everything but once things went wrong - Hopkins was awful. Like you, I trusted this man. There is a Dr. Lauerman at town and he does do revision. Have not heard much either way about him. The surgeon should do more than a couple of these a year - that is what I have always been told. It's hard to believe this whole area is so out of it in regards to revision. Good luck! from VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Hi , I have to call the office on Monday to get those patient's names from Dr. 's nurse. It is strange that their seems to be a void in " revision specialists " , but then again who puts those nametags on doctors? I mean really any surgeon that knows any of the separate procedures required to complete a revision could do one, so in that regard we could be going down the wrong track completely when discounting some of these guys that aren't so " well known " . I'm sure not everyone who has scoliosis needed subsequent surgery from previous fusions chime in on these Internet forums. As a matter of fact, probably a good many that really suffer with this condition are disabled and not in a financial position to allow for a computer and/or Internet access. I'm just trying to consider it all... I certainly don't want to NOT consider Dr. because no one here has heard of him; on the other hand, I don't want to deny myself the chance to get other opinions on a very serious surgery. We were VERY impressed with Dr. and I've seen quite a few ortho specialists in my time (10 surgeries to date). Then again, I trusted my last surgeon to do a good job and it turned out to be failed. Of course, that's not really totally fair since psuedarthrosis is beyond their control and that seems to be my main nemisis. Like my husband put it: " We go to great lengths to check out contractors to do work on our home and insist on referrals and check their credentials, I think that's the least we can do when talking about your health " ! He really is so supportive and will go anywhere and pay anything so that I can have the best of care - I'm so lucky in that regard. We'll see how it goes... ~ Kelley > > Hi Kelley, > I live in northern VA and have never heard this name before. I would > definitely ask to talk to 3 people that have had revision with him. > My first surgeon at Hopkins was very nice and explained everything > but once things went wrong - Hopkins was awful. Like you, I trusted > this man. There is a Dr. Lauerman at town and he does do > revision. Have not heard much either way about him. The surgeon > should do more than a couple of these a year - that is what I have > always been told. It's hard to believe this whole area is so out of > it in regards to revision. > Good luck! > from VA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Kelley - Good point below, re: finances and disabled sufferers we dont even know about. About 10 surgeries, you poor baby! I can't imagine being strong enough or brave enough to keep on trying after all that. I admire you! And about that hubby -hugs to him and you for realizing watcha got! Have a wonderful evening, Marty ---<kelleymoore@...> wrote: ....As a matter of fact, probably a good many that really suffer with this condition are disabled and not in a financial position to allow for a computer and/or Internet access. .... We were VERY impressed with Dr. and I've seen quite a few ortho specialists in my time (10 surgeries to date). Then again, I trusted my last surgeon to do a good job and it turned out to be failed. .... " I think that's the least we can do when talking about your health " ! He really is so supportive and will go anywhere and pay anything so that I can have the best of care - I'm so lucky in that regard. We'll see how it goes... ~ Kelley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Oh no! Marty, thank you so much for your nice comments, but I don't feel like a " poor baby " at all. Quite the contrary, I feel blessed that this is the worst thing in my life that I face; there are so many more people worse off than I am! I am also blessed with having a wonderful supportive family and husband and it has helped me so much to get through it all and helps me keep a good disposition about life. Thanks again... ~ Kelley > ...As a matter of fact, probably a good many that really suffer with > this condition are disabled and not in a financial position to allow > for a computer and/or Internet > access. > ... We were VERY impressed with Dr. and I've seen quite a few > ortho specialists in my time (10 surgeries to date). Then again, I > trusted my last surgeon to do a good job and it turned out to be > failed. > ... " I think that's the least we can do when talking about your > health " ! He really is so supportive and will go anywhere and pay > anything so that I can have the best of care - I'm so lucky in that > regard. We'll see how it goes... ~ Kelley > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2006 Report Share Posted June 23, 2006 Kelley, You said that " psuedarthrosis is beyond their control " ....and yes, in some regards it has to do with the patients body's ability to mend.....but there are different techniques that seem to yield higher solid fusion rates. It is a subject you should question the doctors you are considering on. Personally, after reading the Pubmed articles I wanted all of the bells and whistles...I wanted an a/p procedure, I wanted BMP, I wanted a bone growth stimulator, and I wanted to have a brace at discharge so I could use it in the early healing. Of course, I am not a smoker and didn't have any other markers making me believe that this was gong to be an issue....but I did not want to roll the dice, and interestingly, the insurance company never blinked. Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Cam, Dr. insisted on harvesting bone from me (although my last surgeon said that I didn't have any left because of all the fusions I've had) and using a bone growth stimulator for the fusions. I know the medical community is learning more all the time about this technology and I believe they now understand that cadaver (allograft) bone just doesn't graft as well as autologous bone. I am also a non-smoker in otherwise excellent health, so everything should be in my favor for optimal bone grafting, but... ) Its interesting that you bring up the A/P approach to this type of surgery. Dr. is the first to mention that he didn't think it was necessary (in my case). That contradicts what other surgeons have told me so we specifically asked him to elaborate on that. His plan is to put me in a post-op brace for 3-4 months. He mentioned the brace would have "thigh cuffs". I have no clue what those are and it didn't hit me until the drive home (of course!), so that is one of the questions I presented to him in my email. I wore a post-op brace after my 1999 revision and a magnet therapy bone growth stimulator (I'm not sure of the medical name for this device.). Hoping for a good outcome this time around... ~Kelley>> Kelley,> > You said that "psuedarthrosis is beyond their control"....and yes, in > some regards it has to do with the patients body's ability to > mend.....but there are different techniques that seem to yield higher > solid fusion rates. It is a subject you should question the doctors > you are considering on. Personally, after reading the Pubmed articles > I wanted all of the bells and whistles...I wanted an a/p procedure, I > wanted BMP, I wanted a bone growth stimulator, and I wanted to have a > brace at discharge so I could use it in the early healing. Of course, > I am not a smoker and didn't have any other markers making me believe > that this was gong to be an issue....but I did not want to roll the > dice, and interestingly, the insurance company never blinked.> > Take Care, Cam> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Hi Kelley, Just wanted to say it's partly personal preference of the surgeon as to whether they go anterior or not. There's a lot of factors that affect it, but a surprising amount of " anterior " work can be done from a posterior incision. In my case they didn't have a lot of choice, as I already had an anterior rod in the way making an anterior incision a more tricky proposition, so it was easier to do it all from the posterior incision. That said, QMC are apparently favouring a posterior only approach, including for lumbar fusions, where it's possible, because in cases where the patient would otherwise have had anterior and posterior, it's less traumatic and also leaves more scope to the future (I'm not sure of the exact complications or reasons, but I have read/heard that opening an anterior incision multiple times isn't a great idea). It's rather a case by case basis, and the doc I spoke to regarding this said that if you've got particularly bad disc collapse and need that re-spaced, anterior would probably be done, but anyway - this is a major teaching hospital in the UK where I am treated, so it's definitely not an off the wall idea to go posterior only even for revisions and osteotomies. titch-- The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it's just sort of a tired feeling - a Poundstone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 titch and kelley, I concur, I had anterior work in April but it was because respacing work had to be done. The second day surgery the posterior approach was used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 ---Cam,, Remember how much I whined about the bone growth stimulator early on?? Well I now can sleep with it on..!!! I put it on when I go to bed and when it beeps after 4 hours, I hear it, wake up and take it off....it is amazing what we get used to after a few months!!! ,PA In , " kmrevised " <kelleymoore@...> wrote: > > > Cam, > > Dr. insisted on harvesting bone from me (although my last > surgeon said that I didn't have any left because of all the fusions I've > had) and using a bone growth stimulator for the fusions. I know the > medical community is learning more all the time about this technology > and I believe they now understand that cadaver (allograft) bone just > doesn't graft as well as autologous bone. I am also a non-smoker in > otherwise excellent health, so everything should be in my favor for > optimal bone grafting, but... ) > > Its interesting that you bring up the A/P approach to this type of > surgery. Dr. is the first to mention that he didn't think it > was necessary (in my case). That contradicts what other surgeons have > told me so we specifically asked him to elaborate on that. > > His plan is to put me in a post-op brace for 3-4 months. He mentioned > the brace would have " thigh cuffs " . I have no clue what those are and > it didn't hit me until the drive home (of course!), so that is one of > the questions I presented to him in my email. I wore a post-op brace > after my 1999 revision and a magnet therapy bone growth stimulator (I'm > not sure of the medical name for this device.). > > Hoping for a good outcome this time around... ~Kelley > > > > > Kelley, > > > > You said that " psuedarthrosis is beyond their control " ....and yes, in > > some regards it has to do with the patients body's ability to > > mend.....but there are different techniques that seem to yield higher > > solid fusion rates. It is a subject you should question the doctors > > you are considering on. Personally, after reading the Pubmed articles > > I wanted all of the bells and whistles...I wanted an a/p procedure, I > > wanted BMP, I wanted a bone growth stimulator, and I wanted to have a > > brace at discharge so I could use it in the early healing. Of course, > > I am not a smoker and didn't have any other markers making me believe > > that this was gong to be an issue....but I did not want to roll the > > dice, and interestingly, the insurance company never blinked. > > > > Take Care, Cam > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Kelley, I didn't mean to imply that the posterior only approach wan't completely appropriate for some...and I think Titch has laid out a few other reasons why the anterior surgery is not a choice. In my case, and I did have 2 cages placed, DrRand never even suggested it and DrBoachie said in my case it was possible to do the work posteriorly only, but it was much more challenging and would have signifigantly greater blood loss and he didn't advise it. So I didn't really feel it was an option for me but I know of others who have had surgery with DrLaGrone and have had very happy outcomes posterior only.....I think it depends on each individuals case. I was lucky that there ended up being such abundant bone growth on the old fusion that no further harvesting of bone was required...all me and BMP. Those bone cuff braces don't sound like much fun. I think our friend CA is enjoying one now! I guess they prevent you from inadvertantly putting too much strain on the lumbar area while it heals...but they are mighty restrictive as I understand it. I am hoping for a good outcome for you too! Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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