What is the Harrington rod surgery?

Harrington rod is a surgical implant used to stretch the spine in order to correct abnormal curvature. The rod is attached to the spine with hooks inserted into the vertebra at the top of the curve and the vertebra at the bottom of the curve.

Can you remove Harrington rods?

You can remove the Harrington rod, but you can’t un-fuse a fused spine. And this surgery will permanently affect the way you move on a daily basis. Many patients are surprised to find out how much their mobility has decreased after the surgery.

Why are Harrington rods no longer used?

Harrington Rod Issues For spines that are still growing and have had spinal-fusion, these patients are at a much higher risk of experiencing progression above and below the site of fusion; this result is referred to as ‘Crankshaft phenomenon’.

Are Harrington rods still used for scoliosis?

Remember, Harrington rods aren’t used anymore to address scoliosis. However, if you had a Harrington rod implanted before, you may develop flatback syndrome. Be sure to report any pain, trouble standing upright, difficulty walking, or other symptoms to your doctor.

What are the symptoms of a broken Harrington Rod?

When Spinal Hardware Breaks

Sharp pain in the area of surgery.
Discomfort in the back.
Numbness or tingling in the back, legs, or extremities.

What does a broken rod in spine feel like?

Sharp pain in the area of surgery. Discomfort in the back. Numbness or tingling in the back, legs, or extremities.

How many people have had Harrington rod surgery?

We identified 91 living and 6 deceased patients with follow-up from 40 to 56 years and current patient age from 52 to 71 years old. 81 completed the outcome questionnaires.

How is a Harrington rod inserted in scoliosis?

This surgery is a lengthy and invasive procedure that involves using a ratcheting system to insert the Harrigton rod along the abnormal curvature’s concave side (inner edge of the curve). The rod is attached to the spine with two hooks: one at the curve’s top and one at the bottom.

Which is a better position for the spine after Harrington rod surgery?

This is a much better position for the spine to be in, thereby avoiding the problems leading to reoperation that were seen in many Harrington rod patients. Hundreds of abstracts are submitted each year for consideration of being presented.

Is it possible for a Harrington rod to break?

Harrington rods can bend, break loose from the wires, or worse, break completely in two, necessitating further surgical intervention and removal of the rod. Once the rod is removed, corrosion (rust) is found on two out of every three. Below, are 2 radiographs of an individual with broken Harrington rods.

We identified 91 living and 6 deceased patients with follow-up from 40 to 56 years and current patient age from 52 to 71 years old. 81 completed the outcome questionnaires.

Why does Harrington rod surgery lower the risk of scoliosis?

This could be because of the instrumentation, the fusion, or the nature of curves requiring instrumentation lower on the spine. The lower the level of instrumentation the more likely the patient is to receive an additional spine surgery and the lower the patient reported functional outcomes.

What causes corrosion on a Harrington rod implant?

Corrosion was seen on many of the rod junctions (66.2%) after long-term implantation, but there was no difference between the junction at the hook and those at the crosslink connector. It is thought that intergranular corrosion and fretting contributed to the corrosion of implants.