Re: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs...
Posted by Chuck on 1/03/07

Cindy:
I did everything I was asked from my surgeon including losing
weight, and I quit smoking about 2 months before surgery and
havent smoked since (24 weeks). The concern with smoking and
bone or spinal fusion surgery is that nicotine inhibits the
bone growth necessary for succesful fusion. It really has
nothing to do with the integrity or placement of the screws. I
have seen 3 other surgeons since my surgery and they all agree
that my surgeon did everything right. My screws broke within
the first 12 weeks after my surgery so this had nothing to do
with the healing process or whether I smoked or not. I've been
lucky enough to have achieved spinal fusion in an acceptable
position but my surgeon mentioned that I should really consider
having surgery to remove the broken hardware. He feels that
since it is not fully attached I may jar it loose if I were to
fall on my butt and the hardware may cause me some internal
injuries. I really feel that in my case the hardware was
defective. My Doc says he would like to wait a full year after
my initial surgery to go back in and retrieve the broken stuff.
Something to look forward to huh? Send me an e-mail address
and I will send you pics of my x-rays showing the hardware
before and after it broke. I wish you the best of luck. Keep
in touch. Chuck. (chuckf@baptisthealth.net)


On 12/04/06, Cindy wrote:
> On 11/02/06, Chuck wrote:
>> My experience with Medtronics comes from the pedicular
>> instrumentation screws used in my spine to stabilize it
>> during spinal fusion. Two of the screws in my sacral
>> vertebrea broke very soon after surgery. I have some re-
>> compression of my vertabrea (pain) and am facing the
>> possiblity of having further surgery to assure spinal
>> fusion and to remove the broken hardware. The screws are
>> manufactured by Medtronics and are titanium (not supposed
>> to break) so go figure...
>
>
> Chuck,
>
> I had a lumbar laminectomy 5 years ago in December. I just
> found out that I also have a broken screw, made by Sulzer
> Spincetech (now Zimmer Spine). I also thought those things
> were not supposed to break. I smoke and the surgeon that I
> went to see at New Albany Surgical Hospital said that there
> is a 50&37; chance that you will not heal completely if you
> smoke. That was news to me! Needless to say I've quit! I
> go to have the hardware removed December 13, 2006. He's not
> sure what he can do for me until he gets in there and sees
> if there is a (small) fracture to my vertebrea...I guess you
> can't see it with an MRI. If the bone is cracked he can
> only replace the hardware... if it's not he is going to use
> bone for the fusion and some other manmade materials...to be
> honest I was in shock when he told me this. I haven't had
> any falls or accidnents so I have no clue how this has
> happened.
>
> I would be intrested in know what you decide to do and your
> progress. When this first started (the new pain) in August
> I thought I pulled a muscle. Well it didn't get better so I
> went for an x-ray and they found the screw...part broken off
> in the bone and part just hanging there attached to the
> plate. I am now "crazy" in pain...That's why I'm getting
> the surgery ASAP. I don't know what to think...my smoking?
> The surgeon's placement of the screws...the screws
> themselves? I don't know what happened but I'm going to try
> to find out! Take care and best of luck to you!
>
> Cindy

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs..., 11/02/06, by Chuck.
• Re: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs..., 12/04/06, by Cindy.
• Re: dont do itRe: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs..., 12/22/06, by wes, 23; 3surgeries, paralized,ill, pain!! stop after remova.
• Re: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs..., 1/03/07, by Chuck.
• Re: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs..., 6/08/07, by Mary.
• Re: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs..., 9/05/07, by Sadonna.
• Re: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs..., 6/18/08, by Mary C. in Arkansas.
• Re: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs..., 8/19/08, by beth.