Harrington rod surgery 40 years ago

@peggy87 I would like to welcome you to Connect. Having had extensive spine surgery as a child must have been difficult for you. I'm sorry that you need to go through further surgery now. I found other discussions about Harrington Rods and SI fusion where you can read the experiences of other members. They haven't been active for awhile, but if you post there, you may find members with similar experiences. I am a spine surgery patient and had a cervical fusion 7 years ago.

Spine Health- "Harrington Rod and lower back pain"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/harrington-rod-and-lower-back-pain/
There is also this discussion about Harrington Rods and complications:

Spine Health- "Harrington rods and complications"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/harrington-rods-and-complications/
Bones Joins and Muscles Group - "SI Joint Fusion"
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/si-joint-fusion/
Jennifer

@jenniferhunter Thank you that was most helpful! I have been reading the links and have found some of the information useful. Peggy

I had Harrington Rod surgery at Johns Hopkins in 1978 for a curve that had crept up to over 100 degrees after years in a Risser cast as an adolescent. I had a long curve that was corrected to 45 degrees. I have 14 fused vertebrae, but had three 10-pound babies, played tennis until a few years ago and continue to be relatively pain free.My biggest complaint is compromised lung capacity (currently about 60% of normal) and I now seem be experiencing some auto fusing at the apex of the curve that is further limiting my flexibility. I want to do anything I can to avoid losing lung additional capacity. I am looking for a doctor that is familiar with post-Harrington Rod follow up. The one doctor I saw at Duke a few years ago basically had no advice. Do you have any recommendations? I live in the Raleigh, NC area.

I do not know a doctor in NC but there are some really great doctors that work with what is known as flat back. I have Scoliosis had surgery in 1977 with Harrington rod. I continued with lumbar issues and fused T2-S1 as of 1989. I went for many years without really any issues until 2018 and cervical issues. My recommendation is a neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon with experience with revisions, flat back and complex cases. A lot if them work through University hospitals and are professors/trainers with fellowships. My doctor was not as experienced here in Dallas. While he did not do a bead job with my revision osteotomy to correct my sagittal balance in 2021, I believe he had some misses. My original surgery was in St Louis. I am at Mayo Clinic in MN now with a group of doctor's. I hope this info helps. FB also has a great group for flatback folks like us.

@deden Welcome to Connect. I think my neurosurgeon, Jeremy Fogelson, at Mayo in Rochester, MN would be a good fit for what you need. He is a spine deformity specialist and does complex surgeries to better correct spine alignment. You couldn't find a nicer more compassionate surgeon and he is excellent and loves his job. He did my cervical fusion a few years ago at Mayo. He also teaches in the neurosurgery program at Mayo and mentors other surgeons.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/fogelson-jeremy-l-m-d/bio-20055624
Here is Dr. Fogelson talking about scoliosis treatment.
https://medprofvideos.mayoclinic.org/videos/adult-scoliosis-treatment-options-at-mayo-clinic
If you do want to request a consult with Dr. Fogelson, you can use this link to contact Mayo Clinic. They can arrange for you to send in imaging and you may request that it be sent to him for review. There is no charge to have a doctor look at your case in requesting an appointment.
http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
I don't have scoliosis, and I will help answer questions from my experience about spine surgery at Mayo.

Thank you for this information. I am trying to track down x-rays I had taken at Duke about 10 years ago and then will decide on follow-up options to see if there have been any significant changes since then. I do an annual lung capacity test with my pulmonologist to be sure my lung capacity is not decreasing.

I was 17 years old or you go into the Navy. I drove off a cliff broke my neck and back. Harrington rods are coming out 1977 was the time I got my operation Pennsylvania Hospital. I am now 63 going through pain that no one can determine what it is is it my old Harrington rods I ask. After having CAT scans x-rays, they can’t explain it. I’ve never had a broken rib, but that’s what it feels like it takes the breath out of me if anybody has an answer I appreciate it today’s Thanksgiving. Could it be a bacterial infection? Could it be from my postop?

Diving Accident I didn’t drive off a cliff I dove off

jcwithpain 123,
what spine levels did your harrington's involve?
You might describe the area of the pain you experience with breathing. Pnemonia can cause such. The worst cause would be pneumothorax or pericarditis. These three would show on CT is the radiologist was looking at the aea. The least worrisome is muscular or costochrondritis. Have you been lifting heavy objects or pruning trees with a two-hand shears?
If you want a physical assessment right away, I'd suggest a chiropractic assessment. You could probably get in Monday. Possibly today, but Chiropractors love holidays and take them.
If you have broken a rib the CT may have missed it, but the break would be "closed" or it would have been obvious. In that case all you can do is wait for the healing, because that type of break isn't treated.
The orthopedic surgeon I see says that it is unusual to break a rib in a normal environment unless you have low bone density. You might want to check that.
Screws from body hardware can loosen and move slightly without appearing to have moved on imaging

"During routine assessment, 161 (27.6%) rib fracture sites in 83 (58.5%) cases were missed,"

"65.5% of missed rib fractures were accompanied by fractures on adjacent ribs, indicating that more attention should be paid to the adjacent areas of fractures to recognise subtle rib fractures."
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009926022000435.
Massage the area between the ribs and report back

I had Scoliosis at age 11 which required surgery. Then had a Harrington rod surgically fused to my spine. All was well up until 10 years ago. Recently, I was transferring furniture into a vehicle when I felt something "snap" in my back ; have been in constant pain ever since. Anyone have experience with treatment/therapies for Acute back pain with Scoliosis?