Can spinal Titanium braces (Lumber bone-fusion) dent and become loose after several years?
Answers: Screws, plates, or rods (also known as hardware, implants, or instrumentation) are used to immobilize the spine, which thereby enhance the healing process. Hardware acts as an internal splint. Historically, braces or casts be used. However, research has found that they are not as effective in immobilize the spine. If too much motion occurs the vertebrae may not fuse together. This is known as a pseudarthrosis or nonunion. The incidence of pseudarthrosis ranges from 15 to 40% without hardware. If this occur, further surgery may be required to stimulate the bone to fuse. Screws, rods, and plates have been shown to significantly decrease the rate of nonunion.
Once the fusion process is completed, it is the fusion that holds the spine stable, not the hardware. Therefore, if the fusion is solid the hardware really serves no purpose, doctors do not recommend the routine removal of the hardware as that would require an superfluous operation with no benefit to the patient. If the fusion is not solid, there is a dignified probability that the hardware will loosen or break. This is not dangerous and will not cause nerve prejudice as the hardware is buried deep within the fusion mass, similar to steel rods buried in concrete for reinforcement.
Yes, they can, but it adjectives depends on your daily activities. A girl I went to giant school with and I have both have spinal fusions. She played basketball and ended up having to have hers removed. Mine are still surrounded by place and doing just great.
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