Re: Medtronics Spinal Screws snapped like twigs...
Posted by beth on 8/19/08

On 6/18/08, Mary C. in Arkansas wrote:
> On 9/05/07, Sadonna wrote:
>> On 6/08/07, Mary wrote:
>>> 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
>>>
>>> Dear Cindy and Chuck:
>>>
>>> I don't know who manufactered my screws but they broke about 4
>>> months into recovery before the fusion was complete and now
>>> they want to basically repeat the operation. I have NEVER
>>> smoked so it isn't that and I didn't go skydiving or skiing or
>>> even fall so what gives? I am now facing the loss of my job
>>> if I have the surgery but I am in constant pain as I have been
>>> for the last 2 years. Good luck to you guys and I would
>>> appreciate any suggestions.
>>>
>>> Mary in Miami
>
> Wow....I am amazed at how many more people are having the same
> problem that I am. I had a spinal fusion in Oct. and sometime
> between the 3rd month and 6th month post-op two of my screws have
> broken. They were fine in Feb. and broken by my next xray in
May.
> I am positive I have done nothing strenous enough to break them so
> when I read that the same thing happened to you all I wanted to
> cry. I do not smoke.....quit almost 8 years ago. I have not
found
> out yet what company made the screws but I am betting they are the
> same as mentioned here. I have a lot more pain than I was having
> just after the surgery and the doctor mentioned I will probably
> have to have surgery again to remove the broken screws. I was
sick
> about that !!!!! I will post again as soon as I find out what
kind
> of screws they are.
>
>
Have you ever heard of the Branigan cages used to hold the bone
graft for fusion falling out? I go in a few days for a CT scan and
Xrays to check the rest of my hardware. In march i got an infection
in my lower back that opened up to the outside and started to
drain. The really odd part..I'm a little over 9 years post-op.
After the original surgery nine years ago I did develop an infection
while in the hospital. It was treated and assumed to go away,
although I wonder. Any way I just found out all my hardware cages,
rods, and screws have to come out. One of the cages has fallen to
the point the surgeon will have to go in through my abdomen to get
it. If anybody has been through something similar let me know.

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.