Diane is 41. Over 10 years ago, I I’d a lumbar scoliosis extension fusion down to L5. She did great for quite a while
Over past couple years, she developed severe pain w flat back syndrome w collapse L5-S1 disc.
Today I did anterior L5S1 ALIF, jacking open bottom disc. We then turned her over, took out old hardware and did 2 posterior osteotomies ansd laminectomiers w extension instrumentation and fusion from L1 down to Iliac wing.
Iliac wing screws took extra work since she had bilateral iliac crest bone grafts taken many years ago as teenager.
Surgery went great. As shown on before-after X-rays, her lordosis was improved from 25 degrees to 68 degrees. Her posture from side view looks much better, with normal "sway" and more prominent buttock.
surgical time anterior : 50 minutes.
Posterior surgical time: 5 hrs 15 minutes. Total time: 6 hours 40 min
EBL: 1600 cc
Cell Saver 730 cc.
Blood transfused: none.
Complications: none.
BMP medium and Tisseal used at end surgery.
Tomorrow she gets to stand up straight, which is always a joy to see!!
Dr. Lloyd Hey
Hey Clinic
3 Comments
Lucy
So wonderful to hear that someone can stand up straight again!! After multiple surgeries (all cervical, lumbar and half of thoracic is plated and fused),my hardware is unstable and rods broken, but the real issue is that I have flat back. If I could have anything fixed, it would be that. Congrats to your patient, Dr. Hey, and God Bless You and the work that you do. Most sincerely, Lucy Fennema
Diane Knight
Hello Everyone,
I can’t believe exactly one week ago I was still walking,bent forward, like Quasimodo. In less than 24 hrs.,(for the first time in years),I was able to straighten up like everyone else!
Yes,recovery is no picnic and yes, it still hurts,blech! but nothing good in life comes easy, does it? 🙂
Today, I’m looking forward to next week…next month…next year, etc.. Hope is a powerful emotion and I finally have it.
Peace,
Diane
Diane Knight
Ms. Lucy,
Please don’t give up hope. I was in a similar situation as you not that long ago. I had to have rods removed (upper thoracic) back in 2001 and between two separate surgeries I was fused from T-5 to L5.
It was a couple of years later when I developed flat back syndrome (FBS). On Feb.11,2009 I under went a third surgery. This time it was to correct the FBS.
I’m still in some pain, but I’m walking everyday;I couldn’t walk from one room to another prior to surgery. Now, I can make a half mile easily and even though I’ve made it a mile, I think I’ll go back to a half mile for awhile and not push my recovery. 🙂
My advice to you from someone who has been there… never give up hope. If you can have the surgery to correct the FBS, please do so. You won’t regret it.
– Diane