Question

[Guest guest]

I rarely write into the group but I read all the posts. Knowing that there

are some surgical nurses in the group, I would like to ask a question.

On 6/16/06 I had the hardware removed from my L4-L5 fusion. One of the

screws had broken free of the bone and was in my spinal canal. Even after

the removal I was still in a lot of pain and finally went back to the

neurosurgeon in October 2007. He said I needed to have the hardware put

back in but he would have to do it from the front since he had already done

it from the back. I've heard horror stories about having anterior surgery

(like the intestines becoming knotted) and didn't want to have that done. I

went for a second opinion to another neurosurgeon. He took his own MRIs and

X-rays. He told me that the original fusion never took place and that since

I had the hardware removed there was nothing holding my back together at

L4-L5 and it was moving and hitting the spinal cord. He did a posterior

fusion and had to fuse L3, L4 and L5 in order to get it done.

My question is, when the original neurosurgeon took the hardware out, could

he not see that the fusion had not taken place and that my back was not held

together anymore? Everyone I tell about this says I should seek legal

action against the original neurosurgeon so he doesn't do this to someone

else. I just don't know what to do.

The damage that was done to my spinal cord has caused permanent problems and

I am now unable to sit or stand for any length of time. I can't work

because the pain is so great.

Sorry this is so long. But I appreciate any info anyone would have.

Dawn Cail