Fractured Spinal Hardware

WHAT IS FRACTURED SPINAL HARDWARE?

$x-ray showing a patient with fractured spinal hardware$

Many spine surgeries require the use of hardware to give the spine added strength and stability. These screws, plates, rods, cages, and other types of hardware are made to be strong and long-lasting and are typically constructed of titanium and/or composites. Though rare, it is possible for fractured spinal hardware to occur.

This can happen for a number of different reasons:

Patient experiences an acute injury, such as an auto accident
Patient has a particularly unstable spine
Patient heals more slowly than normal from a spinal fusion and the spine hardware wears out or fractures before the fusion is complete

Symptoms

Many symptoms of fractured spinal hardware overlap with other spine conditions, so it can sometimes be difficult to identify. Typically, symptoms include:

Significantly increased pain in the area of surgery
Discomfort in the back
Numbness or tingling in the back, legs, or extremities

Treatment

At BSSNY, we can help patients whose spinal hardware has fractured or broken. First, we will conduct an imaging scan to confirm the fracture or break, and its severity. Once this has been determined, we will perform revision surgery to remove the fractured hardware and replace it.

BSSNY has access to numerous advanced surgical techniques, many of then minimally invasive, so we can get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.