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Kyphosis: Sagittal Imbalance After Previous Surgery
Description
This patient had her first spinal surgery in 1979—not by Dr. Bridwell. It was for scoliosis, and she had a Harrington rod placed in her back to straighten and support her spine. A Harrington rod was the typical treatment for scoliosis in those days.When the patient first came to Dr. Bridwell, she was 58 years old. Her back pain and returned, and it was intolerable. Over the last 10 years or so, it had become increasingly harder to stand up straight. Because the patient is so pitched forward, she can only walk a block or two without having substantial back pain.
Treatment
Dr. Bridwell and his team decided it was best to correct the sagittal imbalance by performing a pedicle subtraction osteotomy, which is a complex procedure that involves resecting a portion of the lamina, pedicles and vertebral body to restore substantial lumbar lordosis.First, she had the Harrington rod removed. Then, she had the pedicle subtraction procedure with placement of new implants and extension of the fusion to the sacrum and pelvis. Subsequently, she had an anterior fusion performed at L5-S1.
Click on thumbnails to see larger images. Click on the arrows at the bottom of the image to scroll through patient case images, or click the X to close the slideshow.
Preoperatively, the patient is trying to stand as erect as possible. Post-operatively, the patient is standing naturally.
Click on thumbnails to see larger images. Click on the arrows at the bottom of the image to scroll through patient case images, or click the X to close the slideshow.
Note the dramatic improvement in SRS and Oswestry scores with the surgery.
Result
She is now more than 5 years post-op. She is doing very well and is able to walk unlimited distances without any pain.Patient's Comments:
A friend told me about Dr. Bridwell. I did some research and found he was world renowned and considered one of the best in his field. I have to say I agree.
If you have any questions or would like someone to walk you through this case, please call Dr. Bridwell's office at (314) 747-2526 or (314) 747-2560 and ask to speak to either Bernie or Jackie and they or one of his staff will be happy to explain the case in greater detail to you. To learn more about how to understand SRS and Oswestry Scores, please click here.
