It is common during many spinal surgeries for the surgeon to use leave-in hardware to ensure the fusion, or other procedure, is secure and heals properly. Overtime, after full healing takes place, it is recommended to remove this hardware.
Why do we recommend to remove hardware after surgery?
- It can cause pain or discomfort
- Your body no longer needs it for support
- It can cause excess scar tissue
- It can inhibit range of motion
The process is to re-open the original incision and remove any scar tissue that has grown over the hardware. If your spine has fused correctly the hardware will be removed. If your fusion has not been successful we will recommend an additional procedure to fix the problem.