Re: REvision with fusion to sacrum

February 25, 2011

Dear Margarita,

Yes, I did a stop gap surgery hoping not to have to go all the way to the sacrum, and knew eventually I would have to do that, but wanted some time without fusion to the sacrum, but it didn't work out for me, I was back having fusion to the sacrum a year later. I gave it a try, it didn't give me the time I hoped for, and it did mean another surgery. I think Errico is giving you sound advice. Why have two surgeries when you could only have one. Fusion to the sacrum sounds just awful, and living with a very fused spine has it challenges but, it sure isn't as bad as the pain beforehand. You learn tricks to manage a really fused spine, and for me, getting the surgery has meant getting rid of the pain, and having the ability to walk and stand as much as I'd like, and that sure is wonderful.

We have a member who is 13 years out from revision, and while not perfect is doing well. I'm 8 years out, and doing better than I ever would have thought. So for me it's holding up pretty well. I have hope, and am thankful for the surgeons doing this work.

Colorado Springs

On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 8:00 PM, brooklynny1981 <margaritacooley@...> wrote:

Hi everyone,Dr. Errico is recommending fusion down to sacrum since the first harrington (30 years ago) left one vertebrae unhealed and now am having trouble with the others. Dr. Kuflik suggests revision with adding a curve to the lumbar and just fusing 3/4, removing pressure off the others but not fusing all the way down. Errico says if we do Kuflik's way I'll be back again for further fusions. Has anyone encountered this difference in recommendation? It s a big decision- two thoughts from great doctors. I am really afraid of the complete fusion to the sacrum limiting my movement- and what will happen in 20 years??? But, I don't want to come back for another surgery. I have two young children.. I just want my life back.

Would love to hear thoughts on this...M

February 26, 2011

Thanks . What are your limitations? Did you have the curve put into your

lumbar? Who

did your surgery?

Margarita

>

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > Dr. Errico is recommending fusion down to sacrum since the first harrington

> > (30 years ago) left one vertebrae unhealed and now am having trouble with

> > the others. Dr. Kuflik suggests revision with adding a curve to the lumbar

> > and just fusing 3/4, removing pressure off the others but not fusing all the

> > way down. Errico says if we do Kuflik's way I'll be back again for further

> > fusions. Has anyone encountered this difference in recommendation? It s a

> > big decision- two thoughts from great doctors. I am really afraid of the

> > complete fusion to the sacrum limiting my movement- and what will happen in

> > 20 years??? But, I don't want to come back for another surgery. I have two

> > young children.. I just want my life back.

> >

> > Would love to hear thoughts on this...

> >

> > M

> >

>

February 26, 2011

Hi Margarita,

I had revision a year ago and I'm now fused to the sacrum. Like you, I had the

H.Rod for 30 years. I was fused down to (L4/5) and just had the one vertebrae

unfused. Due to the state of that one last disk, and everything else that needed

to be done to me to restore the lumbar curve, fusing the the sacrum was the best

solution.

I did have conversations with my Dr. about the pros/cons of not fusing to the

sacrum. But the probability of me coming back to have that one fused at a later

point were very high. So that was that for me.

(I would encourage you to talk to both Drs. in detail about all your questions

and the pros/cons.)

I'm very happy and yes the movements are a little different when you are fused

to the sacrum as you can't bent from the waist. But it is my " new normal " now.

I'm very happy.

I also have photos under S. in the Photo Section.

SF Bay Area

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> Dr. Errico is recommending fusion down to sacrum since the first harrington

(30 years ago) left one vertebrae unhealed and now am having trouble with the

others. Dr. Kuflik suggests revision with adding a curve to the lumbar and just

fusing 3/4, removing pressure off the others but not fusing all the way down.

Errico says if we do Kuflik's way I'll be back again for further fusions. Has

anyone encountered this difference in recommendation? It s a big decision- two

thoughts from great doctors. I am really afraid of the complete fusion to the

sacrum limiting my movement- and what will happen in 20 years??? But, I don't

want to come back for another surgery. I have two young children.. I just want

my life back.

>

> Would love to hear thoughts on this...

>

> M

>

February 28, 2011

Margarita,

I had revision/fusion to the sacrum (after 30+years of two Harrington Rods) done

by Dr. Errico in 2008. I got my life back and am very happy. Please feel free

to contact me privately if you like. I know I received a call from Rose in his

office last week asking me to speak with a patient of his, but when I called her

back the next day they said she is not in till Wednesday of this week - maybe

it's you???

Donna