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YOU are here : Home > Spinecare Topics > Surgical Interventions > Failed Back Syndrome and Revision Surgery
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Surgical Interventions
Failed Back Syndrome and Revision Surgery
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Failed Back Syndrome and Revision Surgery
Certain patient behavior and habits can adversely affect spine surgery outcome. Examples include poor nutrition, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, poor sleep habits, frailty or physically being out of shape. Proper patient education prior to surgery can help improve results. Other diseases such as chronic neurodegenerative disorders will increase the risk for poor surgical outcome. This includes patients with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, neurofibromatosis, Charcot spinal arthropathy and neuromuscular spinal deformity.
If a patient is very young at the time of surgery (> 50) their likelihood of having another spine surgery or revision surgery is greater than older patients. There is simply more time for degenerative changes to take place and for surgical instrument to mechanically fail. A revision spine surgery always presents a challenge for the attending surgeon. The surgeon must deal with compromised anatomy (structures) and altered tissue, the result of prior surgery. The surgeon relies heavily on diagnostic imaging to plan the procedure.
It is always reasonable for any patient who has been told they need an invasive procedure such as spine surgery to consider obtaining a second and/or third opinion. This provides the patient with an opportunity to learn about different operative and non-operative options and the ability to investigate the risks associated with the recommended procedure. There are many helpful tests, which may be ordered prior to revision spine surgery, these include X-rays, advanced imaging such as CT and MRI, bone scans, nerve studies (EMG/NVC) and lab work. These tests are integral for the doctor to confirm a surgical diagnosis.
If a patient is very young at the time of surgery (> 50) their likelihood of having another spine surgery or revision surgery is greater than older patients. There is simply more time for degenerative changes to take place and for surgical instrument to mechanically fail. A revision spine surgery always presents a challenge for the attending surgeon. The surgeon must deal with compromised anatomy (structures) and altered tissue, the result of prior surgery. The surgeon relies heavily on diagnostic imaging to plan the procedure.
It is always reasonable for any patient who has been told they need an invasive procedure such as spine surgery to consider obtaining a second and/or third opinion. This provides the patient with an opportunity to learn about different operative and non-operative options and the ability to investigate the risks associated with the recommended procedure. There are many helpful tests, which may be ordered prior to revision spine surgery, these include X-rays, advanced imaging such as CT and MRI, bone scans, nerve studies (EMG/NVC) and lab work. These tests are integral for the doctor to confirm a surgical diagnosis.
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