Different spinal surgical procedures use various types of spinal hardware to stabilize the spine. When this hardware breaks or gets infected sometimes it could have to be removed. The reason for this spinal hardware, whether from injury, disease, or a condition, that area of the spine needs added support other than the bone, collagen, ligaments, and other tissues. Surgeons utilize this hardware to:
  • Stabilize the spine
  • Correct deformities
  • Regain motion
  • Height restoration
  • Pain relief
  • Help heal another area of the spine
The hardware ranges from rods, plates, cages, wires, spacers, etc. There are many types and are employed in various operations. Many spine procedures involve some type of hardware. A surgeon relies on this spinal hardware to complete procedures involving realignment of the spine or spinal fusion. Many patients undergo spine surgery without complications, however, some have problems with the hardware. The most common issues are the hardware loosening, breaking, or the development of an infection. Unfortunately, when this happens it can mean that another surgical procedure may be necessary to remove the hardware/device.  
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Spinal Hardware Removal When Broken or Infected
 

Spinal Instrumentation

All of these pieces of equipment are designed to remain in the body permanently. The hardware can be made from stainless steel, titanium, and titanium alloy. Spinal fusion is common, involves hardware, and could be necessary to help/correct:
  • Spinal deformity/s
  • Degenerative condition/s
  • Heal fractures
  • Other issues causing back pain
The procedure involves the surgeon grafting bone between two vertebrae. Then the hardware is used to hold those vertebrae together. This eliminates motion between them. This is how the vertebrae fuse into a single bone, which reduces or eliminates the pain. Like with any surgical procedure complications can include hardware failure.  
 

Spinal Hardware Removal Reasons

If the hardware loosens, gets infected, or the patient can feel some of the hardware under the skin a surgeon will likely recommend removal. Intense, excessive pain is often a symptom of a loose screw and other hardware complications. If the hardware is protruding under the skin the patient could feel a bump that could cause pain when touched. Loose hardware could irritate the surrounding tissues and nerves, resulting in the patient feeling pain or hearing a grating, crackling, or popping sound. Loosened instrumentation can be caused by the bones of the spine not healing or fusing correctly. The hardware can also shift and break from the bones not healing properly. Other reasons for hardware failure shortly after surgery.
  • Lifting heavy objects
  • Participation in high-impact activities
  • Trauma from accident, slip, fall, etc.
  • Health conditions especially osteoporosis and osteopenia can increase the risk of the instrumentation loosening, breaking, and shifting.
Quite uncommon but some patients develop infections right after or weeks following the surgery. When the hardware gets infected the patient could feel pain along with the site of the incision draining, and fever. Key indicators around the incision site are:
  • Chills
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness
Sometimes there are allergic reactions to the hardware itself. However, this has decreased significantly in recent years. This was common with stainless steel before the use of titanium.  
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste. 128 Spinal Hardware Removal When Broken or Infected
 

How The Removal Is Done

This type of removal surgery is typically not considered an emergency unless the nerves or spinal cord are at risk of being injured/damaged. The exact procedure depends on the individual’s specific situation and case. However, it will be easier than the first surgery. Removal is typically nowhere near the extensiveness of the initial instrumentation placement. Before the procedure, the surgeon will advise preparation tips, just as with the original surgery. To optimize recovery, patients should ensure they are in the best possible health that they can be. This means no smoking, light exercise, and even breathing exercises for optimal lung function. Patients should not begin any new medication regimen prior to the surgery and should ensure all medications are known to the surgical team. The procedure will go in through the original incision and remove any scar tissue around the hardware. Depending on the situation the hardware could be reinserted or left out entirely.

Post Removal

Hospital stay depends on the individual situation. Some patients go home the same day and some have to wait. If there was an infection it more than likely means an extended hospital stay to make sure the infection is gone and has not spread elsewhere. The healthcare team will give directions just as with the original surgery which can include detailed instructions on:
  • Sitting
  • Sleeping
  • Showering
  • Taking meds
  • Sex
Recovery from hardware removal depends on the extent of the surgery. Contact the surgical team if experience new or unusual symptoms after the procedure, including fever, pain beyond the surgical soreness, numbness, weakness, tingling, and for problems/issues around the incision area, like bleeding, redness, swelling, and draining.

Bottom Line

Spinal hardware helps the spine heal, and ultimately reduces or eliminates the back pain improving quality of life. Instrumentation and devices can be defective, causing them to break, loosen, etc and need to be replaced. It’s just in this case the replacement has to take place in and around the spine. A doctor will assess the damage and decide if removal surgery is necessary, which will prevent further problems.
 

18 Wheeler Accident Chiropractic Treatment

 
 

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The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*

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The information herein on "Spinal Hardware Removal When Broken or Infected" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

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We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

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Dr. Alex Jimenez
Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.