non-union after fusion - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

Toonces1 · 03-21-2009, 02:00 PM

I've seen a couple people on here mention that they did not fuse after a cervical fusion. What did you do after that? I thought my doctor mentioned that another surgery might need to be done. Does this mean you have to have the fusion all over again? I had the flexion and extension x-ray and it was suspicious because my bones appeared to move. I am going in for a CT next week to do a "reconstruction model" that is supposed to help determine if I did in fact fuse. I had my fusion about 14 months ago and I am being treated for chronic pain post-op.

If they do a new fusion, do they just do the same thing over again, or is it different?

chatterboxsd · 03-21-2009, 05:46 PM

Hi, Toonces. I had a non-union for thoracic - so take what I say from that perspective. I had to have a revision surgery from a different approach with new & different hardware. New BMP, too. It was not my ideal situation, but it was successful. I had XLIF originally & a posterior approach for the revision.

There wasn't an option for me, because it was not safe to be going around with unstable bones. And they hurt like the dickens.

So, that's how it happened for me. Good luck. Non-unions do happen, but they are not a predictor of failure forever. Keep your chin up. Good luck to you.

Ronn9 · 03-21-2009, 07:27 PM

I had to have rods and screws posterior because of my non union.... so instead of one simple plate and 6 screws i ended up with plating rods and 12 screws....no fun....

want a good out · 03-24-2009, 04:23 PM

Ron Korz... How are you doing after the revision???