March 17, 2020. Instead of having a lot of pain upper where the scoliosis is progressed I have lumbar pain where the rod is broken. My throat and nose are so dry I can hardly speak and nose is so dry it . Surgeon advised the titanium rod and pin were only designed to be load bearing until the femur healed and not for long term weight bearing. Was finally able to return to work about 9 months earlier and one day as soon as I walked in the door, I noticed something on the carpet, squatted down but again with a little bend to reach the object, and once again that familiar horrifying sound of a loud snap! After the bone graft grows, the screws and rods are no longer needed for stability and may be safely removed with a subsequent back surgery. Amanda. Titanium does not suit all body types and some may show reaction whereas some others may not. Plates have a wide variety of lengths and holes for the attachment of pedicle screws. I had 4 surgeries to fix mine from a motor cycle accident. Types of implants used in surgery without fusion. It is unfortunates, but yes, titanium rods do break, often within a year of surgery. In spinal fusion surgery, titanium is also used to generate microscopic metal particles that can be found in the surrounding tissues (implant environment). And dental titanium, such as titanium posts and implants, can last even longer. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. When i went back to find out why I had this pain, the Dr.orderd an MRI and found out that due to the onset of osteosporousis, the added weight of the titanium rods had caused my vertebrae to crumble causing pain if I sat too long. Turns out neither of these levels had fused and both right and left rods had broken at these levels. Possible complications after back surgery, Recovery After Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery, Pain After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Surgery and What to Do About It, Possible Complaints After Neck Fusion Surgery. Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for. This metal has the ability to affect lung function, which causes lung diseases such as pleural disease. Broken instrumentation**:** Instrumentation can break when the bones are not healing, and the rods or screws fatigue.This process is somewhat like a wire coat hanger you continuously . can be made from various materials, such as: Titanium & metal alloys (the most common) Stainless steel (not as common today) The brief answer to our initial question is yes, patients can be allergic to hardware if they have a pre-existing allergy to the materials that make up the hardware (titanium . They are corrosion resistant. The Dr said had she know of my problem, she would never have suggested the titanium rods to repair my broken back. I did nothing to cause this break I think the rod were faulty. Allergic reaction to titanium rods in back Nov 1, 2004 I read that a "skin patch test" should be done before any surgery because your body could reject the metals. When cages are used, the mesh implant is inserted between the vertebral bones. Its important to note that broken spine hardware is extremely rare. 2/24/03 One-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy with donor bone and titanium plate (C5-6) Post 2/03 - Symptoms returned and worsening. During my recovery, my L femur was the most painful of my broken bones. Titanium implants are the best. I am now 23 and experience excruciating pain (continuous and to the touch) near one of the locations of the broken rods. Soback to almost square one with healing etc. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. The idea of an exploratory surgery scared me too bad so I decided to deal with the pain. I just had another MRI today and I now have more problems. For the first 3-4 years I didn't notice the the metal in my leg and lived a normal life each day, i.e. Clinic Locations. And my wonderful husband rubs my back constantly hot hot hot baths help but nothing takes it away completely ill hav to hav them go back in but the recovery is so long and im a mother of a nine years old and am hopeing to jave anotjer baby with in the next 4 years soo ill have to deal sorry about the on and on and i hope this has helped u. I had my surgery in 2003. I have not had much trouble until now and suddenly am having extreme difficulty breathing and walking and the pain is getting worse. Has anyone ever broken a titanium rod in their back.And is this dangerous if not taken care of? Was told not to have children and had two by natural birth one by c-section due to being breached. However, hardware failure is potentially a risk for any fusion patient. I did not have a fall, or any one specific injury I can pin point when these rods busted. It saved my life in many ways. Premarital Counseling Grand Rapids, Mi, The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. It was dec. Cages help support the bones and keep the height of the spine the same. My wife is 73 and 5 years ago she had 8 disc replaced with cadaver bones, cages and rods and screws. Low back pain is one of the leading causes of physical disability worldwide. I was 5foot 8inches at time of surgery. Depending on the extent of the damage and nature of the issue, corrective spine surgery may involve: Replacing the broken hardware. Therapies, exercises etc or for that matter walking, climbing steps etc, add to the stress and force on the rods, which can then break. Categories . The doctors at the local hospital placed a steel rod Inside the broken tibia and held it in place with 3 pins (after little research I think it is called an Intramedullary rod). Need Bone Fusion/Removal of Titanium Rod: dancing feet: Foot & Ankle Problems: 10: 08-26-2007 02:22 PM: cranioplasty titanium plates: laineypops: Brain & Nervous System Disorders: 3: 08-12-2007 11:10 AM: Titanium Medronics plate question: DollyD6343: Spinal Cord Disorders: 7: 09-07-2006 07:56 AM: Titanium Plate fusion concern: fkissam: Spinal . In 1978 at the age of 15, I in was in a terrible head on mva. Tiny flakes of this metal chip off and enter the bloodstream, nearby soft tissues, and/or joint. spinal fusion was initially pioneered in the early 1900s. Is your pain something you can live with ? I had to, as I have 4 older small dogs who needed to go out side. 89 helpful votes. I am terrified to go through all this again and end up with yet another failure..The only thing I can say for sure I did that was told NOT do, was mow with our large profession zero turn lawn mower.. He is passionate about helping his patients achieve the best possible outcome and is committed to providing the highest quality of care. Hello world! To date, the majority of published clinical studies on MIS sacroiliac joint fusion are industry-sponsored and predominantly using one system (ingrowth triangular titanium rods). Didn't find the answer you were looking for? over a year ago. The surgeon also performed a dynamic stabilisation at this level. mri interpretation spine problems always in pain need help or advise. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. By Staff Writer December 7, 2012 Treatment problems It is possible for rods and screws to break, but I have never heard of breakage causing a pedicle screw to be pushed (or screwed) through the vertebral body into the great vessels (vena cava, aorta, etc.) While inserted rods for scoliosis are made of titanium, the rods themselves are not made entirely of titanium. However titanium is pretty strong. Screws, plates, rods, and other types of spine hardware are made of incredibly strong and sturdy materials (usually titanium and/or composites). They said surgery was not necessary unless I was having horrible pain. i am 38. with a broken titanium rod, that which may have not been tainted, had i not been . This rod has traditionally been used to treat the lateral or coronal plane curvature of the spine, or scoliosis, as well as other conditions. This adds to the structural integrity of the screws. The more fussion the more complicated. Scoliosis surgery has been going on for hundreds of years. Of course, these allergic reactions do not happen to everyone. Ask our community of thousands of members your health questions, and learn from others experiences. Depending on the patient, the bones can fuse quickly, or they can take some time. Titanium, which is a common metal used in dental implants, is very unlikely to cause hypersensitivity. c6 c7 nerve damage in surgery from titanium rods and screws Unintentional Cracking 2 yrs after cervical spine fusion ant surgical clips in my neck after total thyroidectomy Scoliosis Surgery: Broken Titanium Rods possible metal allergies and reactions as pertaining to earrings and jewlery Cervical spine disectomy, fusion and titanium plate at C6-C7 11 reviews. I had the same thimg done at 12 and I am now 27 and i also had them break in two spots both rods and yes i have horrible pain nevers get pinched all the time also had have arms go numb and i havent had tjem fixed for.the same reason u said all i can do is take pain pills. Because the cages are handmade, the weight can also vary. Four days later the orthopedic had more xrays taken and said he thinks the rod has loosened up at the top and that the screw on top was improperly placed which altogether may be causing the pain there and possibly could be infecting my knee. The rods are usually made of titanium or stainless steel, and are attached to the spine with screws. Is it possible for titanium rods to bend? The most important motivating factor in using this type of implant is the high demand for faster recovery and less time. See answer (1) It is written that people have had MRI's done safely with titanium rods and screws in their legs. It felt like someone had removed thorns that had been tearing me up for years. These symptoms are possible in people who have a metal allergy and undergo replacement of knee, hip or other joints, states the Arthritis Foundation. Hi, very sorry for your pain. Spent months doing MRI's, bone scans, xrays and other tests and therapies (Physical Therapy, massage, electrotherapy, surprisingly this one helped me the most) and the doctors told me my hardware was fine and there was no reason for my pain. Since the pain was so bad I could no longer function or go to school I opted for the surgery--it certainly couldn't make it worse! Some potential symptoms of sinusitis include: pain, tenderness, or. For any reason, the fusion may not be performed as expected and other side surgeries may be needed. MedHelp is not a medical or healthcare provider and your use of this Site does not create a doctor / patient relationship. Which Is The Best Orthopedic Distributor In our country? Jun 14, 2010 - 02:10pm PT. I am approaching this with a lot of prayer and prayer partners until God helps me see the answer. I saw my surgeon in April 2015 and he said surgery was my only option. My L5 vertabrae burst on impact as well as many other injuries. What is ASD? When surgery is performed without a fusion, the implants will not be an impediment to normal back movement. He is the founder and main author of brandonorthopedics.com, a website that offers valuable resources, tips, and advice for patients looking to learn more about orthopedic treatments and physiotherapy. He keeps saying nothing is wrong. 100% with the sentiment though there are certainly plenty of ways to get a T1 CV. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. The 1950s saw the introduction of a single rod as a fusion rod for the spine. Another problem is that the rods can loosen, which can also cause pain and require surgery to fix. Why Do Knee Replacements Fail, And What Are The Symptoms Of Knee-Replacement Failure? The procedure is typically done in conjunction with other scoliosis treatments, such as physical therapy and braces. Despite solid fusions, breakage of surgical rods has become a common issue in scoliosis patients. Though it is unlikely, it is possible for spine hardware to break after an operation for several reasons. barra conversion kits patrol. The implants used in fusion surgery are divided into three groups: Cages, Plates, and Rods. CT scans work better if you need the rod area checked.