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4 replies [Last post]
July 29, 2010 - 11:27am
FrequentFlyer
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Joined: 07/29/2010
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Broken NSpine instrumentation

In March 2008 I had my fourth lumbar revision spine fusion for spondylolisthesis L2-L5. NSpine instrumentation (Synthes company) was used. Results were good for one year and pain returned. Diagnosis was collapse of L1-2 plus broken NSpine rods and one screw at L5. There is no explanation for the hardware failure and I understand this is quite unusual in absence of trauma. As a result I had fifth fusion surgery in May 2010. Has anyone had a similiar problem with NSpine instrumentation?

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July 29, 2010 - 2:25pm
#1
jellyhall
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Joined: 10/16/2009
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First Post

Hi Frequent flyer, I haven't had my rods or screws break! I very much hope that I won't have that problem!

I wanted to welcome you to Spine Health, as I noticed that this was your first post.

There are others here, who have had their hardware break, and have had to have it replaced. I have no idea which company made it. I expect one of them will answer your post.

What was your hardware made of?

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Grade 2 spondylolisthesis causing severe stenosis + DDD
L4/L5 decompression (laminectomy) and PLIF 19th March 2010
Herniations at T12/L1, T9/T10 and T8/T9 (mildly indenting cord)
Significant cervical spondylosis from C3-C7
C3/C4 and C4/C5 are compressing the cord (mild to moderate)
Waiting 6 months to see how much worse things get

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August 1, 2010 - 12:25am
#2
jlrfrye
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Points: 1178
Hi frequentflier

I have had the screws break in the cervical area. I might mention no trauma either. One of the screws had actually shattered which left quite a mess for NS to clean up. He said it took 4 hours to pick the slivers of steel from my spine. The surgeon told me he has never seen anything like this in his 25 years of practice. Im leaning towards I had defective parts.lol.
Susan

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5 cervical surgeries in 10 years and 2 lumbar

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August 1, 2010 - 8:38pm
#3
SpineAZ
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Joined: 10/21/2009
Posts: 1028
Points: 2080
Hardware

I have heard of hardware failure though thus far I'm lucky that I have not experienced it. I have no idea what brand of hardware I have in my neck or my back, I may have to ask.

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Rt. Total Knee Rplcmt 09/2011
L3-S1 PLIF '10; L4-S1 PLIF '93; L5-S1 PLIF '87
C5-C7 Foraminotomy '08; C5-C7 ACDF '06
Bilateral knee arthritis. Bilateral CTS.

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August 5, 2010 - 2:15pm
#4
pigfarmer
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Joined: 08/04/2010
Posts: 18
Points: 36
hardware

I had a medtronic cd horizon agile device that had a recall on it for possible breakage. Of course mine broke. It broke both rods when I was pulling on a dead pig, gave me quite a jolt, legs went numb for a few seconds, quite scary! Same thing with mine, surgery took about 4 and a half hours because of cleaning up the fragments, then got pnemonia sp? to boot! Not a good deal! And they told me I could'nt get any compensation because medtronic was protected by the federal government! Thanks alot!

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pig farmer

I have had 9 lumbar surgeries, I am fused from L3-S1, anterior and posterior, now having cervical problems. This was all due to getting trampled by eight 300lb hogs on my farm in August of 2000. Have had every injection they do.

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