|
Yes, for some patients. While other patients have higher pain tolerance.
|
There are some patients that have long-term pain from taking that bone graft.
|
In about 10 to 15 percent of the people who have undergone a fusion surgery that also involved a bone harvesting procedure, the pain has been long lasting (more than 3 months).
|
Yes. In most people it resolves over a few weeks to a month or more but some patients have a persistent degree of discomfort or pain that can last forever.
|
|
In some people that can be true.
|
The majority of patients do not experience long-term pain, but it is possible for patients to experience long-term hip pain following bone harvest.
|
|
One of the disadvantages of taking bone from the hip is local pain at the harvesting site. This pain can sometimes be of significant intensity. Most often, it is temporary and resolves during the spinal recovery period. Occasionally, the pain may be of a more chronic nature.
|
|
Everyone has some pain from a bone graft harvest. In many patients this pain is gone in 4-6 weeks but in up to 30% of patients it may persist for 2 years or more.
|
Most patients do not have that experience, but a small percentage of patients can expect to have some persistent bone-graft harvest-site pain that is long-lasting.
|
Yes. Patients occasionally have chronic permanent pain from the bone graft site.
|
Some patients have described chronic pain severe enough to require additional intervention in order to reconstruct their iliac crest after having bone harvested from it. Stress fractures to the ilium may occur, and result in significant pain for several months after surgery. The chronic pain also can be permanent if nerve damage occurs, especially in the anterior aspect of the iliac crest and the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.
|
Yes.
|
Yes. I have been a part of several prospective studies, which have specifically asked patients about bone graft harvesting site pain. 100% of patients postoperatively complained of bone graft site pain. Now that percentage of patients complaining of pain reduced over time. However, in all of the studies of well over 200 patients assessed prospectively between 32-38% of patients, over a third of patients, still continued to complain of graft site pain at two years following surgery.
|
Yes. The pain from the hip harvest can last a very long time. It is not usually severe or limiting in any way. But you may continue to be aware of it, particularly if it is pointed out.
|
Yes. Typically the pain associated with the hip graft can last anywhere from a few days to years or even permanent pain.
|
However, there is not a universal answer to how long pain will last. There are marked individual differences in pain tolerance. Remember that the most important issue is what will yield the most successful surgical result.
|
Absolutely. Many patients complain of pain at the graft site after their spine fusion has healed. Approximately 35 percent of patients experience pain at the site of the bone harvest in the hip that can last for two years or longer.
|
Pain is the major complication from harvesting bone graft. It can last long term in as many as 20% of patients, though we probably do not know the actual percentage.
|
The commentary above recounts the experiences of these physicians. Medtronic invited them to share their stories candidly. Keep in mind that results vary; not every patient's response is the same. Talk with your doctor to learn more about any products that are mentioned above.
It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications and benefits of spinal surgery with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your doctor's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
