Spinal fusion: Hardware removal

@zorrospouse, I'd like to invite back @cgmc who had discussed a scoliosis fusion and hardware removal. I'd also like to invite a few members who discussed having hardware removed from hip surgery, although it is not the same injury type, they may be able to share their experience with having surgery to remove hardware that perhaps has some similar experiences. @rlwilliams, @clca, and @skronky100 discussed having hardware removed after tibial fractures.

@zorrospouse, has your surgeon discussed with you what your next steps are after removal of the hardware?

Hi. I had a long fusion, T4-L3, and was quite thin at that time. The hardware was giving me a lot of pain, and after a period of pain meds, rest, and PT, my doc decided to remove all the hardware. This was over a year post surgery, and my fusion was healed/ intact. I wouldn’t recommend a second surgery unless it is absolutely necessary, as spine surgery is major. I guess the question would be, why did the fusion fail for you?

Hardware being replace with rods and attempting fusion again.

Ok. Did the fusion fail because of your hardware, or was it your bone....osteoporosis or osteopenia? If it was your bone’s inability to fuse I would suggest that you first go to a doctor who deals with this before getting another fusion.

Poor surgery, hardware placement has puzzled all current doctors. Surgeon who did last surgery has lost his license due to numerous issues. Hopefully replacing badly done surgery hardware will allow fusion to be successful.

I have had the hardware removed from a prior surgery during current a current surgery as long as the prior fusion has fused. So far, I have had 4 sets of hardware removed. I currently have hardware from C4-C7 & T12 to L3. As long as I don't have any pain from the hardware, they will remain. Best of luck 🙂

I have had hardware removed from successful fusion and reconstructive surgeries (foot and hip).....my hip surgery was done when I was a youngster and my foot fusion was done last summer and removed a few weeks ago. I am hoping the removal of hardware this time will relieve the pain I was experiencing in my foot. It worked wonderfully to remove the hardware in my hip and gave me so much relief when I finally agreed to do it (I was in my late 20’s by the time I agreed to it). I’m thinking my body becomes sensitive to the hardware after awhile of being in my body. However, when I had to have a THR, I haven’t had any problem with that hardware. Blessings to all.

Probably need My Fusion Hardware to be removed-- It was done over 8 years ago- I Live with Pain Day and Night////// Please Help!

@janetokin Hello and welcome to Connect. Here we can share our experiences in spine care. I am a cervical spine surgery patient with a C5/C6 fusion that was done without hardware because I worried about having a reaction to the foreign materials in my body and with a single level fusion, I could stay in a neck brace until it fused and my surgeon agreed to this. I did break my ankle a few years later and required hardware which was titanium, and I did have that removed after my ankle healed. I had pain, and had chronic hives that came up anywhere on my body and excess phlegm in my lungs. I have allergic asthma, so that just made it worse. My surgeon didn't equate that with a metal allergy, but removing the hardware solved the problem.

Can you tell me more about your specific situation and why you think the hardware should be removed? Is that something that is possible? Have you communicated with your surgeon about this or had any testing that would indicate something like an immune response?

I just had a T3-5 fusion with instrumentation - I am very distressed about it and do not understand how I am supposed to live like this - I was worried before the surgeon did it but I was told no alternative procedure was possible. The surgery was beginning of July/23 - will it ever heal so that I do not feel anything and get back to normal or is my new normal forever to have thoracic back pain?