Spinal Fusion Hardware Removal Explained

In this video Dr. Choll Kim explains the removal of spinal fusion hardware.

Learn about LESS and other State-of-the-Art Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeries at

Medical Disclaimer
The information in this video is not intended to serve as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. To address your specific medical concerns, we strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider. The surgical procedures shown in this video are performed by a qualified spine surgeon and may not be appropriate for all individuals.

#spinesurgery #fusion #explained #spine #hardware #removal #backpain

[catieq]

I’ve had two spinal surgeries, the first was thoracic fusion surgery for severe scoliosis and the other was the removal of hardware due to infection 5 years later. I feel amazing now that all that metal is gone.

[MissilemanIII]

I've had 19 spinal fusions. I'm looking at my 20th. What doctor's don't understand is the pain.

[BeantownxChampions]

I had to have my hardware taken out after spinal fusion. It wasn’t nearly as painful as the fusion surgery. Which was absolutely excruciating!! Still living with the pain which will be for the rest of my life.

[julezzzx]

I’ve just had my first fusion (I put it off for 13 years and L5-S1 fused on their own) but I woke up from surgery with a spinal fluid leak and heavy bleeding. I had to lay flat for the first 4 days. When I got home I noticed the stitches at the top of my incision where the leak and bleed was have come open. Today is 8 weeks and I’m still having incision issues. Other than that my legs almost instantly had so much less pain. I’m looking forward to being able to do more again!

[youtube_teen]

I have severe idiopathic scoliosis, it developed during covid so nobody noticed until it was around 37 degrees. By the time I actually got in to have a consult with the best scoliosis surgeon in Canada (about 8 months later) it had become 57 degrees. I have been waiting for my MRI scan for 6 months now and it's not even until January, the surgeon said that a brace won't do anything so surgery is my only option. I am only 17 and already have excruciating pain daily, hopefully once I finally get the surgery (whenever that will be) I will have much more relief

[kpepperl]

I know someone who went through surgery after surgery from his neck down to his lower back... The last time he went into the hospital, it was because of a bad infection from a surgery attempted to fix hardware migration... The poor guy couldn't catch a break. Still in pain.

[steveo]

I had really bad scoliosis when I was younger and had surgery when I was 10 and they put 2 rods next to spine on each side to correct my spine when I grew. I'm 34 now and still have the hardware and it will be there forever.

[StarrDiiva]

I had scoliosis when I was 11 or 12. I had my spinal fusion surgery on October 10, 2010 and I thankfully have no complications. I'm so glad to have found this channel and to see people who have gone through what I have and to see a doctor that educates people about the process and afterwards

[mariacarneiro]

Thank you Dr. I had a spinal fusion for spondy and sometimes I think that thr hardware is causing irritation specially when I move a lot!

[justincav]

I wish i could be a surgeon. I've gone through 6 growing rod adjustments (not the proper term), and had a spinal fusion my 7th surgery to treat idiopathic Scoliosis. I feel that I really could emphasize with the patients, and I've always been interested in surgery...

[LoneStarLadybug]

C4-T11 fusion post MVA… I have hardware poking under the skin like a stegosaurus.. the bottom of the rods pierced the muscle, now I have lipomas that formed so it’s even more bumpy.. I can’t sit back against anything or lay down on my back. 😢 screws have backed out. I’m forming hyper kyphosis. Needing the hardware removed BUT surgeons have been too scared to even touch it. SMH

[spindleblood]

The jewelry thing got me. 😂 Because I'm crazy enough that I'd do this. 😅

[michaelshafer]

Hi. I’ve had a fusion at C5-6 from a MVA and 1 yr, 3 months later had to have a cage placed at C6-7 which left me severe pain resulting in opioid treatment to present. Now I have c4-5, L4-5 damage and boney t8-10. What a ride.

[rosebud]

Wow I just mentioned this in one of your other shorts!! Fusion, L4-L5 in 2003, after thrown around in a tornado. Yes, a tornado. Still have a lot of pain after physical therapy, many injections and lots of opioids. One doctor suggested removing the hardware. I don’t know if I can go through another back surgery. 😮

[gasriel]

Im just over here thinking "this dude seems cool" and then he says "and you can make some pretty cool jewelery with it too".

[Retiredtraveler]

Just had a spinal fusion one month ago and while I'm not on narcotics anymore and I'm walking one or more miles a day plus ADLs, that hardware talks to me, doesn't fail to remind me it's there.

[crystalpasseri]

I had a fusion 25yrs ago for scoliosis. Now I am having so much pain in the lumbar area. Hurts to walk, and wakes me up from a dead sleep. I am fused T8 - L4 . I have all the stuff the Dr said, rods, cages and screws also wires spanning my whole fusion.

[lynneskinner]

Had my fusion on the left side removed. Very painful recovery, I would have unbelievable pain and no sleep for three days due to the pain..

[sharicooper-michener]

Love the humor about the jewelry. I had jewelry made from go, d teeth and still love it today but it no longer looks like teeth

[MichaelD]

Pain Management for 4 years. Totally understand