Prognosis

[Sparda29]

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Patient had lumbar-spinal fusion surgery and was discharged about 5 days after the surgery. The patient is a 44 year old female with lupus. At a recent check up, a CT scan revealed that the screws that were used have come out.

The physician said it is not possible to correct this via a minimally invasive procedure. Only point of entry is from the anterior part of the body.

How serious is the risk of this procedure, in a patient who is on a very high risk of developing infections (severely immunocompromised due to steroids and chemotherapy).

Note: I am a pharmacy student so I do not know much about this field.

 

[skiz knot]

Patient had lumbar-spinal fusion surgery and was discharged about 5 days after the surgery. The patient is a 44 year old female with lupus. At a recent check up, a CT scan revealed that the screws that were used have come out.

The physician said it is not possible to correct this via a minimally invasive procedure. Only point of entry is from the anterior part of the body.

How serious is the risk of this procedure, in a patient who is on a very high risk of developing infections (severely immunocompromised due to steroids and chemotherapy).

Note: I am a pharmacy student so I do not know much about this field.

There is no way to exactly quantify the risk of this surgery. You should consult the physician performing the surgery, and obtain a second opinion if you feel it is necessary. All surgery has risks and potential benefits. You should not seek medical advice from SDN. It is a TOS violation.

 

[Sparda29]

There is no way to exactly quantify the risk of this surgery. You should consult the physician performing the surgery, and obtain a second opinion if you feel it is necessary. All surgery has risks and potential benefits. You should not seek medical advice from SDN. It is a TOS violation.

I'm not the patient. What I'm trying to find out is, has it been done before and are there articles about it? I'm not sure where to look since I usually only research articles about drugs.

 

[skiz knot]

I'm not the patient. What I'm trying to find out is, has it been done before and are there articles about it? I'm not sure where to look since I usually only research articles about drugs.

Since we don't know anything about the patient or what surgery is planned (anterior approach to what part of spine, how many levels, what surgery has been done?, what is planned?, overall health status of the patient?, how long/much steroids?, other co-morbidities?, patient size?, smoker?, diabetic?, Meds patient takes?, etc...

For answers seek advice from the physician. also try http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

 

[Winged Scapula]

As skiz knot notes, this is a TOS violation. It does not matter whether you are the patient - it is clear that it is someone close to you. Please pose your queries to your/your friend's physician/surgeon.