HI,
I wasn't going to join the site, but when I saw your question I wanted to respond. Yes, it is true that Harrington Rods cause Flat Back syndrome. This is what happened to me. I had my original surgery, with Harrington rods placed to L-4 in 1978. The rods exert so much force on the spine that it pulls all the rest of your natural curve out of your back, so 20-25 years afterwards, as you age, you can no longer stand up straight. (When you are young your body can compensate for it, but the unfused discs get systematically destroyed by the force of the rods, and eventually they are so diseased that they can't function any more.) By the time I decided to have spinal reconstruction surgery this year, I was bent over 45 degrees. This was after 20+ years of constant, progressive, intense pain. The rods also exert force on the unfused discs above them, so you have to be careful of neck injuries, too.
If you have a surgeon who wants to use Harrington rods on you, RUN, Do Not Walk, to someone else! They are now considered outdated technology, supposedly not commonly used since the mid 80's. If you have them in, have them taken out as soon as possible after the original surgery. (I did this, too, in 2001, but it was too late.)

Flatback is not a rare or unusual occurance. It is now a known complication of Harrington rod placement.

Hi! I have had my Harrington Rods in since 1962 and refused in 1964...I, too, have flatback syndrome...I am going to have revision surgery by Dr. Bridwell in St. Louis (fantastic dr, I'm told) to remove the rods and refuse with new technology. I would recommend getting more than one opinion....there are good, newer ways to fuse the spine now...Good luck to you!

What is the "new technology" they use instead of the rods? My sister has had four surgeries. Rod in, out, in and just had them out. She was 15 at the time of her first surgery and she's now 50 and quite deformed. The surgeon was suppose to take the rods out and try to straighted her back to relive a lung but instead he just removed the rods. She will continue to curve forward and sideways. We're devistated and she hasn't seen her surgeon since the surgery three months ago. If there is new technology I need to know what it is. Her bones and muscles have become hardened and she has degenerative disk disease.

My rods are not fussed to my spine. I have hooks that the rods sit in and the rods were just there to give support to my spine and it was fussed. I had my surgery in 1993.

hello,
i had the rods in place since i was 12 and im 30 now. i don't have flatback syndrome. don't let anyone have you afraid of this. it depends on the doctor. ask him how many surgeries he performed, ask him can you speak to some of patients, and yes, they can let you. a lady talked to me before i had the surgery. i put my name on the list also and a young girl from my high school contacted me and i talked to her about it. it really depends on the docs. my doc was the best in the field. and im fine, i have two children with an epideral so spine fusion doesnt stop that either. i have no pain.