rod removal

[Guest guest]

Hi - just following the posts....and the discusion on rod removal. I asked my

surgeon about the stability of my old CD rods, since they removed a bottom hook

with my latest surgery. He said that there were several other hooks holding

them in place, and in fact, after 18 years, the rods are imbedded in solid bone

from the fusion. He said that typically you really don't need them anymore

since the fusion is stable, but no one typically likes to have to remove them

after so long, since it would require " chipping away " the bone, unless

absolutely necessary or I had nothing else to do ) I said - " nah...not bored,

they can stay! " . From my understanding, when they can, they will remove parts

of old instrumentation, but leave the rest of it in if possible. I'll keep all

my " stuff " - it's funny to see people's reactions when I say I have 4 rods in my

back, screws...etc. )

Marilyn, it sounds like you had a relatively short fusion, but being in the

lumbar region, that would cause the Flatback. I'm sorry you're going through

this too. What are your thoughts? Is it bothering you a lot now?

Take care!

Cena

________________________________

>

> From: ahlan_warda@...

> Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:28:40 +0000

> Subject: [ ] Re: Letter from Dr LaGrone - Marilyn

>

> Hi

> Below are statements taken from the letter received from Dr.

> LaGrone. Thanks tons for your help Cam, and anyone else that

> can shed some light...

> " ...she subsequently underwent PSF with Harrington distraction rods

> from L2 to the sacrum in 1976. " " She had Harrington rods attached to

> iliac posts from L2 to the sacrum with subsequent removal. "

> " She has a fixed sagittal imbalance with kyphotic positining at the

> lumbosacral junction. "

> " Reveals overal lordotic positioning of her thoracic and lumbar spine

> with a lumbosacral kyphosis. "

> There are junctional degenerative changes and overall lordotic

> positioning of the thoracic and lumbar spine "

> Under a heading called " IMPRESSION: " it says " Flat back syndrome

> with sagittal imbalance "

> Under " RECOMMENDAtion " it says " We could consideer a wide pedicle

> subtraction osteotomy in the lower lumbar area. She may require

> extension of her fusion a level or 2 more proximally. "

> Hugz

> Marilyn

>

> >

> > Marilyn,

> >

> > Actually, no, it doesn't make sense to me that you have not had any

> > fusion higher than L5 and had a Harrington Rod at one time. I

> wonder if

> > you are mistaken about what levels your original fusion were at?

> > I have never heard of anyone having a HR with just a one segment

> fusion

> > and/or that low.

> >

> > So to clarify...if you know, what levels were you fused at as a

> teen

> > when your original HR was placed?

> >

> > As you know, the HR is quite long...if you look in our photos

> question

> > under my name you can see mine, as DrRand left mine in for revison

> (just

> > shortened it). I think this was a pretty typical " install " at the

> time

> > (1972)...one rod 8 to 10 " ...2 hooks...fusion from T4-L5.

> >

> > Take Care, Cam

> >

>

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