Here?s Why Harrington Rods Are The Not The Best Treatment For Your Scoliosis

Posted by abby smiths on February 6th, 2019

Scoliosis is a medical condition in which the spine curves to the left or right, either in an ‘S’ or a ‘C’ shape. There are patients who have mild curvatures that remain stable but some suffer from extreme cases in which the curve increases over time. Scoliosis is associated with back pain, respiratory problems and even restricted mobility in some cases. Harrington rod, which is a stainless steel surgical device, became a popular method of Scoliosis treatment in the 60’s and continued to be so till the 90’s. However, with time and advancements in medicine, people started realizing the harmful long term effects of the Harrington rods. Today, there are no spine surgeons in the United States that use these rods.

Here is a list of few reasons why it is more beneficial to choose other forms of Scoliosis treatment over Harrington rods:

1. Corrosion: According to a study, corrosion or rust can be found in more than 60 percent of all Harrington rods. Corrosion can lead to harmful long term medical conditions such as Metallosis and spinal tissue inflammation. Metallosis is the buildup of metal debris in the soft tissues. This may lead to neurological impairment in the future.

2. Breakage: These rods can bend or even break apart in two in worst cases. When the rods break, it is extremely painful for the patients. The only option then is to remove them. However, in some conditions, doctors may refuse to operate due to the tricky nature of the surgery. Only a part of the broken rod can be removed. This is because spinal fusions are solid and the bone encasing makes the removal of the entire rod exceptionally difficult.

3. Pain and discomfort: Patients that have Harrington rods implanted in their spine often complain of pain and discomfort. There are various forums in which you can find testimonials of patients that have gotten the rods removed due to their side effects. Back pain and nausea are some common problems that they face.

OTHER OPTIONS OF SCOLIOSIS TREATMENT

Now physicians are able to able to use other forms of spinal correction, such as pedicle screws. These screws allow them to independently manipulate each segment of the vertebrae. They can rotate and move each vertebra with much more strength than the earlier days. Pedicle screws provide a more polished correction and stabilization and can be used in patients as old as 70 years. There are also various non surgical options to treat the condition, such as bracing and exercise therapy using traction chairs. These methods are not as invasive as Harrington rods and do not pose serious threats to the patient’s health in the future.

All these forms of treatment have the potential to work well for the patient. However, based on the developments in Scoliosis treatment in the last few decades, it is safe to say that the future holds the promise of bringing about many more viable and affordable options for spinal correction.

Author’s bio: The author is a blogger. This article is about Harrington rods.

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abby smiths

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abby smiths
Joined: August 4th, 2016
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