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  • jennhugh
    Participant
    Post count: 2

    Hello Dr Corenman, This is in regard to #26578 and #26579 from October 12th and 13th of 2017. This relative preceded with the surgery using the fibia bone. I guess you could say everything went pretty well except it didn’t get done until April of 2018. There were some issues with her leg healing. Well since then, one of the rods they initially placed along her spine to support her neck broke. I’m wondering if bending them during her last surgery to adjust her head tilt may have had something to do with it but anyway, I would like your opinion on what they are going to do about that now. One rod is broken and they want to take out the existing rods, add dual rods and add one of her rib bones that would be split for stabilization & a better hope of fusion. Saying it would be an 8 hour surgery and 5-7 days in the hospital. Does that sound right to you? They also told her there has only been 5 surgeries like hers ever in the U.S. I doubt that! I so believe they have never had this in Omaha before. We recommended you but she is just so fixed on Omaha being only a couple of hours from her. But the rib thing is freaking her out. I wanted to send her e-ray but I don’t see how to attach anything here.
    Thanks so much in advance for your response,
    JPH

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    Many years ago, I used to use the rib as a donor bone but I no longer find I have to use ribs. The iliac crest is a much better donor site with much less morbidity and a better load-bearing graft.

    The fact that there are broken rods indicates a pseudoarthrosis (lack of fusion) as metal supports are only designed to support the fusion and will break over time if the fusion does not take (metal fatigue).

    I do have a long-distance consultation program that allows me to review and recommend what could be a different treatment pathway. Call the 888 888-5310 number if you are interested.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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