Failed Open Back or Neck Surgery

Failed Open Back or Neck Surgery

Failed open back or neck surgery can feel like a curse for people who had hoped to find relief from debilitating back or neck pain. In fact, for some patients, the consequences of a failed surgery can be worse than the symptoms that led to the decision to undergo surgery in the first place. And the reappearance of back or neck pain after failed surgery isn‘t the only problem. One of the most damaging potential side effects of failed surgery is the onset of depression, which can exacerbate the already difficult task of picking up the pieces of a life shattered by failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).

Types of Failed Open Back or Neck Surgery

Because of the highly invasive nature of open back or neck surgery, it takes several weeks or even months to know whether the spine is healing successfully. That means failed surgery may remain undetected for weeks or months. Things that can go wrong with open back or neck surgery include:

• Fusion failure – a false joint, known as pseudoarthrosis, might develop if the bones don‘t fuse as expected; additional surgery might be necessary.
• Anesthesia – a small percentage of patients experience adverse reactions to general anesthesia, including diminished lung function while unconscious.
• Blood clots – also known as thrombosis; steps must be taken by the surgical team to prevent serious thrombosis-related problems, including pulmonary embolism.
• Infection – this is relatively rare, but unpredictable; if it occurs beneath the skin, additional surgery might be required.
• Nerve damage – a surgical instrument that bumps or cuts a nerve can cause permanent damage.

Avoiding FBSS

Rather than undergo risky open back or neck surgery, tens of thousands of patients have found relief at Laser Spine Institute. Our orthopedic specialists perform minimally invasive, outpatient procedures that are far less risky and require a much shorter recuperation period than open back surgery. Contact Laser Spine Institute for a consultation with a member of our medical staff, or for a complimentary review of an MRI or CT scan.