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T10 to Pelvis Fusion. Experience, Comments Appreciated
I would like to hear from others who had a, or something like a, T10 to ilium fusion with multiple interbody support. How long was the surgery? What is a brief description of the surgery? How long was the hospital stay? Were the results what you expected? How long before you were up and walking as much as you were before the procedure? Did the procedure improve the length of time you can walk? Were you offered any other possible procedures? Any other thoughts/comments?
I have been evaluated and found to have severe Degenerative Disk disease, progressive kyphotic deformity in my lumbar spine, and significant sagittal balance deformity due to a complete loss of lumbar lordosis. This results in my inability to maintain normal posture. In 2018 I had an L5-S1 ALIF for lumbar stenosis, sciatic pain, and a left-sided foot drop. This procedure improved my sciatic pain significantly; however, it did not improve my left-sided foot drop. I spent one day in the hospital. I wear an AFO on my left foot and ankle, an LSO brace, and use walking sticks. I do not have radicular or myelopathic symptoms at present.
I often must use my hands and available furniture when ambulating to keep from stumbling and/or to straighten up my posture. I cannot maintain an upright posture without assistance for more than a few moments. My most comfortable position is while pushing a grocery store cart. I am relatively asymptomatic at rest. I can lay flat without pain or difficulty. I have consulted with several spine surgeons who have discussed thoracolumbar corrective surgery that would include multiple interbody support and fusion from my thoracic spine down to my pelvis. However, one surgeon opines that the risks of the surgery would likely outweigh any potential benefit. Another surgeon recommends the surgery, which has a high probability of improving my quality of life.
Imaging and Findings
GENERAL: The patient is a male in no acute distress. He ambulates with the use of bilateral walking sticks.
BP 129/70 | Pulse 64 | Temp 36.4 °C (Temporal) | Ht 6' (1.829 m) | Wt 83.4 kg (183 lb 12.8 oz) | SpO2 100% | BMI 24.93 kg/m²
FINDINGS:
Alignment: Rightward lumbar spine curvature measuring 9 degrees from L2-L4. 4 degree leftward thoracolumbar spine curvature measured from T12-L2.
Coronal balance: C7 is 3.1 cm to the left of S1 (normal less than 3 cm).
Thoracic kyphosis angle: 10 degrees (normal range 20-50 degrees)
Lumbar lordosis angle: 19 degrees (normal range 20-60 degrees)
lumbar kyphosis 2 degrees
Sagittal vertical axis: 2.2 cm (normal range -2 - +2 cm)
Pelvic incidence: 64 degrees
Pelvic incidence - lumbar lordosis: 45 degrees (normal less than 10 degrees)
Pelvic tilt: 39 degrees (normal less than 20 degrees).
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@jksawyers
In my opinion, if you don't do surgery your back will progressly get worse. 😞
With the surgery, you should be able to do much more than you do now.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Nadine
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2 ReactionsNadine, thank you for your response. I am certain you are correct.
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1 Reaction@jksawyers the surgery immediately straightened me! Not an easy recovery, but I’m just now 11 months post-op and I’m doing so well.
And just like Nadine said, if nothing is done, it just gets worse and worse as time goes by with gravity, etc. That was also what my surgeon told me and what kicked me in gear to get it done ASAP.
Best, Sherry
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4 ReactionsThank you Sherry. Maybe you can help me develop an outlook on my situation that will give me a reason to see it in a positive light. I’m diagnosed with heart failure, CKD4, and diabetes. So it’s doubtful I’ll grow to be an “old man”. Let’s say I have five years left, is this painful surgery and recovery worth it? Especially if it takes up a year or more of my short time left. Does this make sense?
Thank you, Jack
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2 Reactions@jksawyers Jack, It is difficult to keep hopeful with so many health concerns and pain. I am sorry to learn you have so many health issues to contend with. I think the question you posed to Sherry is a great question to pose to your doctors. I have had a fusion from T-12- S1. 9 months out. I continue to use PT and work on stretching and strengthening every day. For me life began to feel more normal about month 4. I still feel like a back patient and work against some hip pain but would do it again. The relief definitely outweighs how I felt before.
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4 Reactions@sassytwo - thanks for your response. I have asked doctors, I’m intentionally asking in this forum because I would like the opinion of someone who’s been through a similar surgery like I am facing. Thanks for your input. I appreciate it.
Jack
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3 Reactions@mydogbb14
My husband is 84 and was very active until the last 5 years. Now he can get around with a walker and can only stand for a short time without one. He is scheduled to have a thoracic 10-pelvis fusion posterior and a lumbar 4-sacral1 anterior interbody fusion the beginning of the year. He is very positive and healthy but I am concerned about his age and the recovery and if the results will really make a difference in his life. Any input from your experioence would be appreciated. Thank you and keep up your good work.
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2 Reactions@happyboppa Welcome to Connect. I’m not 84, but spine surgery is major surgery for anyone and with a fusion for several lumbar levels will be a big surgery and a long recovery. One question to ask is about bone quality. If the bone is not strong enough to hold the screws in place, they can pull out or fail. Screws also must be placed at very precise angles or they can pull out. Has your husband been scanned for osteoporosis?
Smoking is also a hindrance to healing from spinal surgery. His overall recovery health makes a big difference in what a potential outcome may be.
I would recommend get several opinions before making a decision. My cousin in his 80’s had a laminectomy for lumbar stenosis and did very well. His pain after surgery was about 2 weeks and in a month, he felt pretty good. I am a cervical fusion patient and it was about a 3 month recovery and I was in my late 50s.
Has your husband had any surgeries to gage how well he heals afterward?
@happyboppa Hi, I’m sure the past 5 years have been similar for your husband and me. The pain that leads up to this surgery is beyond imagination. It is sciatica on steroids with full muscle spasms included. I had no choice because my previous surgeries collapsed to the point that I developed cauda equina syndrome which was discovered after I collapsed and was admitted for surgery immediately. I’m almost grateful for it now. However the post surgical pain is extremely intense for the first 6-8 weeks. The next steps were all done in the pool at physical therapy which was incredibly helpful. If he is willing to fight for the first few months it will really pay off. My surgery was February 18th and I returned to my part time job at the end of June. My quality of life has increased dramatically compared to the past few years prior. I am here for any questions. Good luck with your journey.
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1 ReactionI had a T10 to pelvic surgery just a bit over 2 weeks ago. It was done in 2 stages (I remained in Neuro ICU for 4 days until stage 2). I had 3 prior spinal fusions, all of them failed. The last one was 9 years ago. I have suffered from chronic back pain, severe left leg sciatica, severe nerve burning in both feet...to the point of crying myself to sleep, while praying for Jesus to heal me, and complete numbness of both feet (feels like I'm walking on bubble wrap). Also, in order to stand somewhat straight, I always had to bend my knees. I looked like a hunchback. No medications (I take 7 different ones for all this), and nothing heloed.
I turned 64 yrs old while in the hospital. Nice, huh?
I have fallen so many times, I lost count. One fall was down 6 stairs out of 13. I slammed my head into the front door where the stairs end. One fall, I knocked over an entire display at the grocery store...while ambulating with my cane! I was not hurt, but totally embarrased. Those two stick out in my memory the most out of all my falls.
I've been to so many ortho and Neuro surgeons over the last 8 years. NOT ONE wanted to touch me, one even said (after many painful nerve tests), "I'm sorry, you're too complex for me. Try specialists in NYC at hospitals like Hospital For Special Surgery." Needless to say, I left in tears. HSS jerked me around for 2 years, (too long to explain here), I finally gave up going 60÷ miles in each direction.
All my spinal issues were caused from 2 car accidents, (neither one I was at fault), the last one in 2019 did me in. She totaled me car and threw me into oncoming traffic. The first one that started all this was in 2017. I've been suffering since 2017!
FINALLY, a specialist that I called (via my sister's advice), at NYU Langone NYC, referred me to his colleague here on Long Island that specializes in trauma, deformities of the spine, and complete reconstruction of the spine. I went, he assessed and did more "in-depth" testing and found I had mild scoliosis, severe flatback syndrome and all my nerves were severely compressed, which led to sciatica, and the unbearable burning in both feet! Not to mention, degenerative disc disease, and a mild compression fracture.
Well, I am finally home and recovering slowly. I walk around our large dining room table with my rolling walker, at least 20x around. I can stand up straighter now without bending my knees, (still allowing for healing pain), I can stand longer, about 5 minutes worth, instead of less than 1 minute before. BUT, the severe burning in both feet is still there. Yesterday, the surgeon called (not one of his PA's), and I asked about the severe burning, and he assured me ALL nerves are totally decompressed and free from any ability to be compressed again. He stated that I must understand the 9 yrs of compression will take a long, long time for the nerves to recover. I also addressed that I suffer now muscle pain in my thighs, he said, that has to do with two things, nerves decompressing and the pelvic part of the fusion.
It will be about a year before I feel better. PT will start once all this agony slows down. I do my own exercises (gently), by stretching my arms and shoulders as far back as I can without hurting too much.
I have my first follow up this Friday, February 20, 2026.
Sorry this is long. Good luck to anyone that is considering this type of surgery (T10 to pelvis). It is a HIGH RISK surgery with even risk of becoming paralyzed. Thank you Lord that I am not. But, I assure you all, no matter the final outcome, I will never have another surgery, and my ortho surgeon stated that my quality of life will eventually be significantly improved, so we shall see. I'll post back eventually when there is news. Glad I found this group/site.
Thank the Lord I found the ONLY surgeon here that specializes in all my issues, where others have failed me!
Here is the report (so far)...(more to come, too soon after surgery for FULL report).
FINDINGS/IMPRESSION:
Status post previous posterior instrumented fusion and revision, from the T10 level to the level of the sacrum and iliac wing. Scattered posterior paired paraspinal rods and scattered transpedicular screws span from T10 to S1 and additional bilateral iliac bolts noted. Intervertebral cage at L2-L3 and L5-S1. Intervertebral graft at L3-L4 and L4-L5. Hardware is intact and stable in alignment. Grossly preserved thoracic vertebral body heights. Mild loss of the L4 vertebral body height, posterior aspect, stable as compared to February 3, 2026, but new as compared to radiograph dated September 2025, nonspecific. Preserved remaining lumbar vertebral body heights. No significant listhesis along the thoracic or lumbar spine. Multilevel degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine and at L1-L2, stable. Surgical clips project over the right abdomen.
MILD LOSS OF THE L4 VERTEBRAL BODY HEIGHT, POSTERIOR ASPECT, STABLE AS COMPARED TO FEBRUARY 3 2026 BUT NEW AS COMPARED TO SEPTEMBER 2024. CORRELATE WITH SURGICAL HISTORY. FINDING MAY REFLECT A MILD COMPRESSION FRACTURE OR REFLECT POSTSURGICAL REMODELING.
IMPORTANT FINDING. THIS REPORT WILL BE FLAGGED (!) IN EPIC.
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