T9-L3 Fusion

bohaiboy, time for a second opinion. You might want to look at an artificial disc for T12-L1. I'm assuming it is a disc protrusion. https://www.hss.edu/health-library/conditions-and-treatments/list/disc-replacement?,demonstrating%20its%20effectiveness%20become%20available.

Welcome to the forum! I am just finishing up week 5 post-op of T10-S1 fusion due to scoliosis and chronic pain. Any type of elective surgery should cause you great pause.
Ask yourself if your life will be better is the surgery is only 50% better - because that is what most surgeries can provide. I would encourage you to try every alternative therapy before committing to surgery. Those might include: active release (myofacial) therapy, PT, personal trainer, dry needling, acupuncture, chiropractic, cupping, daily commitment to exercise (swimming if possible), and then pain management.
If these all fail - which they did for me, but they did give me 12 good years - then I would consider starting to move towards surgery.
Wishing the best!

Welcome @bohaiboy If you do have the surgery you’re describing, you would loose the ability to bend at the waist. Your surgeon will have to explain why the plan includes those levels. I have heard surgeons say the L5/S1 is the most difficult to fuse. It’s bearing almost all your body weight and if the screws are not placed at the correct angles, they can pull out requiring another surgery to fix it.

I would also recommend getting several opinions from different surgeons at different medical facilities. There may be other choices or different hardware or implants. Look for the best surgeon you can find. I am guessing the fracture of T12 is part of the recommended surgery as it may be a weak link or if there are bone quality issues. Holding screws in depends on dense bone quality and if there is a bone thinning, the at is certainly a consideration.

Are you seeing a deformity expert? Those surgeons have lots of experience with stabilization of the lower end of the spine.

@bohaiboy Do you know which vertebrate are affected by the scoliosis? It might be the reason he wants to go as far as the T9.
I agree with what others have said about getting another opinion and also weighing whether you can manage your pain versus getting surgery and losing mobility and possible other negative results.
Best, Sherry

@sherrym25 Here is the radiologist report. T8-T9: Facet and costovertebral osteophytes contribute to moderate left and mild right foraminal stenoses.
T9-T10: There is 1-2 mm anterolisthesis of T9 on Tl0. A diffuse annular disc bulge, facet and costovertebral osteophytes and thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis and mild bilateral foraminal stenoses.
Tl0-Tll: There is mild chronic loss of disc space height. A diffuse annular
disc bulge, superimposed broad-based central, left paracentral left foraminal disc osteophyte, facet osteophytes and thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis and moderate bilateral foraminal stenoses.
Tll-T12: A diffuse annular disc bulge, a superimposed small central disc protrusion, left worse than right facet hypertrophy and mild thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis, without
significant change from comparison examinations dating back to 11/19/2022.
T12-Ll: A diffuse annular disc bulge again is noted. A superimposed large central and left paracentral disc extrusion has not changed significantly from 11/19/2022. Hypertrophy and thickening of the ligamentum flavum are worse
(series 12, image 7/50 on 11/19/2022, compared with series 7, images 4-5/48 on today's exam), now resulting in severe spinal canal stenosis. The con us medullaris remains deviated posteriorly and to the right of mid line. Focal
signal abnormality of the con us medullaris (series 7, images 5-7 /48) likely represents myelomalacia.
Ll-L2: A broad-based central disc protrusion, facet hypertrophy and thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis.
L2-L3: A broad-based central, right paracentral right foraminal disc
osteophyte and facet hypertrophy contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis,
mild narrowing of the right lateral recess and moderate right foraminal stenosis, without significant change.

Also from radiologist: FINDINGS:
Again noted, there are twelve typical nonrib-bearing thoracic type and five typical nonrib-bearing lumbar type vertebral segments. Again noted, a convex left curvature is centered at T3 T4. A convex right curvature is centered at
T6-T7 and a convex left lumbar curvature is centered at L2-L3. There is straightening of the normal thoracic kyphosis and a normal lumbar lordosis.
Again noted, remote L4 and LS laminectomies and L3-LS posterolateral instrumented fixation (PLIF) were performed nearly 4 years ago. Bilateral pedicle screws L3, L4 and LS are transfixed by bilateral, vertically oriented interconnecting rods. There is no evidence of hardware loosening or osteolysis. Again noted, percutaneous vertebral augmentation of T12 was performed nearly three years ago.
There is no acute thoracic or lumbar vertebral fracture. The thoracolumbar facets are well aligned. There is no epidural hemorrhage or abnormal epidural fluid collection the thoracic or lumbar regions. The spinal cord demonstrate normal course, caliber and signal characteristics, without intrinsic abnormality or extrinsic compression. The tip of the conus medullaris terminates at the level of Ll-L2. The nerve roots the cauda equina demonstrate an expected distribution within the thecal sac.
C7-Tl: Normal
Tl-T2: Mild facet hypertrophy is not associated with stenosis.
T2-T3: A shallow annular disc bulge, a superimposed small right paracentral and foraminal disc protrusion and mild facet hypertrophy contribute to mild right foraminal stenosis.
T3-T4: A small right paracentral disc protrusion does not exert significant mass effect on the thecal sac.
T4-TS: A first right facet hypertrophy is not associated with stenosis.
TS-T6: A broad-based central right paracentral disc protrusion and thickening of the ligamentum flavum contribute to mild spinal canal stenosis and mild narrowing of the right lateral recess. The disc protrusion mildly indents the right ventral cervical spinal cord. There is no spinal cord edema.
T6-T7, T7-T8: Facet osteophytes contribute to mild bilateral foraminal