Revision Surgery for Flatback

[Guest guest]

I am a new member of your group, considering revision surgery to

correct a Harrington rod surgery for scoliosis in 1994. At that

time, I was fused from L-5 to T-4 or 5 (12 vertebrae fused). For

about 10 years I was in fairly good shape, walking, skiing and

biking. In the past three years, I started having severe sciatica

with standing or walking, and now can hardly walk around the block.

I am also starting to lean forward more and more. Since I am 66,

although still in very good health and working full time with my own

business, I feel as if I need to have this surgery before it is too

late. When I had the first surgery, however, I thought it

would " fix " me for life. I had no idea of the flatback syndrome,

nor was I told that the vertebrae under the fusion wouldn't

ultimately be able to hold up the rest of my spine. I have been to

see Dr. Sigurd Berven in San Francisco, who is at UCSF, and is the

successor to Dr. Bradford. He recommends two surgeries, one

posterior, and then four days later, another anterior to do bone

fusions. I am terrified at the idea of two surgeries, and feel that

this just has that much chance of more complications. Has anyone in

your group had this dual procedure, and done well with it? I would

love to get any information, good and bad, about this, and what the

benefits or complications might be, and also what is the

recuperation time period, etc. I also have had two other names of

possible surgeons: Dr. LaGrone in Amarillo, and Dr. Bridewell in

St. Louis, MO. Thanks for your help.