Scoliosis
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Wed, 10/28/2009 - 12:41
Rod Removal After Spinal Fusion Surgery
My daughter had spinal fusion surgery 2 years ago Nov 2007 she was 12 years old at the time now 14.
Her curve was at 58 degrees. Her titanium rod is about 10 inches long on her lumbar spine. She has been experiencing pain over the last year. Her doctor has told us that rod removal may be an option after further test are ran and she is 100% that the spine is fused. My daughter is extremly upset with the thought of another surgery as am I.
Has anyone had this done? Can you please offer any advice or experience with this pain.
Thanks
Bernadette
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Hi Bernadette,
I can't speak from experience but I have read here where people have had the rods removed for one reason or another. I would be certain someone with that type of surgery will respond. In the mean time check the archives of this thread, you may find what you are looking for.
Ranger
I cannot speak from experience but I have read that the rod removal surgery is not nearly the huge surgery that the original surgery was. If she is fully fused, there is no need to have the rod there, because her spine will be stronger than the rod.
Have they been able to tell you why she's getting pain? Did they use BMP in the first surgery? Are they going to run an MRI?
There are surgeons who specialise in revision surgery, I hope you can find one.
Surgery aged 57 for Scoliosis
Laminectomies, Osteotomies and Fusion T4-pelvis
using autograft, allograft and BMP
March 3, 2009, Brisbane, Australia.
Curve corrected and spine de-rotated from 68 degrees to 22.
During one of my surgery's I had to have about four levels of hardware removed and replaced with new stuff. The part ware they removed the hardware didn't hurt at all. What hurt me is they had to extend it up into my neck and that of course really caused a lot of pain but the area ware it was removed and replaced did not cause any.
My fusion start at C/4 and goes down to L/2.
I could not get the whole fusion in here.
hi i had a fusion a few years ago l1/l2 and having the rods removed was the best thing i ever did, i was up and about and home in less than 24 hours and I had it done about 8 weeks ago, even the operation pain was not half as bad as the fusion operations I had before. i am still recovering but feel better for having that out of my body stopping my muscles from moving properly.
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