Scoliosis Support Group

Here is some current research on some of the risks of scoliosis surgery (which again, I feel obligated to point out is 100% cosmetic in AIS).

I hope it stimulates a open, honest, discussion among every patient (pre or post operative) about the risk/benefit ratio associated with this procedure with their orthopedic doctor.

In the interest of full disclosure.... I do feel the surgical procedure is worse than the condition itself.

Unfortunately, scoliosis surgery complications aren't uncommon. I am not providing this info to scare anyone, but there are a lot of short-term and long-term problems/complications with having a scoliosis fusion surgery. So if you feel like something may be wrong....It probably is. :(

I believe Paul Harrington said it best way back in 1963. "Metal does not cure the disease of scoliosis, which is a condition involving much more that the spinal column."

We need to find a better way.
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This follow us study was done 2-4 years post-op.

25 Patients were included in the analysis
6 w/rod breakage or requiring revision = 24%
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/...
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This one was a follow up 21.5 months (or sooner) post-op.

Australia 2006
83 Patients were included in the analysis
13 w/rod breakage = 15.6%
http://proceedings.jbjs.org.uk/cgi/c...SUPP_III/446-a
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Corrosion of spinal implants retrieved from patients with scoliosis.

Akazawa T, Minami S, Takahashi K, Kotani T, Hanawa T, Moriya H.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
J Orthop Sci. 2005;10(2):200-5.

Corrosion was seen on many of the rod junctions (66.2%) after long-term implantation.

We recommend removal of the spinal implants after solid bony union.

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Wear and corrosion in retrieved thoracolumbar posterior internal fixation.

Villarraga ML et al, Exponent, Inc., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Spine. 2006 Oct 1;31(21):2454-62.
RESULTS: Wear was present in 75%, corrosion in 39%, and fractures in 7% of the retrieved implants.

CONCLUSIONS: Retrieved rods exhibited corrosion, wear, and fracture, with wear and corrosion mainly located at the interfaces with hooks, screws, or cross-connectors.
Posted on 08/19/09, 11:08 am