Spinal Fusion Surgical Video

This is a video of an actual spinal fusion surgery using the exact method that Annie will undergo.  I know for some people, like Justin (I love you, sweetheart!) this video is a little too graphic, so consider this your warning.  However, I guess as a doctor's daughter it doesn't bother me--I find it very interesting and I really appreciate being able to visualize exactly what will be happening to Annie in the OR while we wait about 10 hours to see her again.

This video is of a boy (about 13-14 years old, I believe) who has a curve of 60 degrees (Annie's is 90 degrees).  Although spinal fusion surgery is usually 8 hours or longer, this video only captures one hour during the procedure.  The whole video is very informative, but below is a summary if you're only interested in some of the highlights.  (Or, if you want details of the surgery without having to watch the surgical video, you can read about it in a previous post found here.)





At the point when the video starts, nearly all the screws are in place down the length of the spine, but at time mark 5:50, you can see how they go about inserting a screw into the final vertebrae.

The screws go in first and then they begin attaching the first rod to one side at time mark 9:25.

At 22:15 they begin working on the correction with just one rod in place, working to twist and rotate the spine with a wrench and by pushing on the patient's side.

At about 25:45 they show some cross-section pictures to show how the screws fit through each vertebrae.

At about 28:00 they talk a little about complications and risks involved with the surgery, and begin to insert the second rod.

At about 30:00 they talk about the blood loss and the need for blood transfusions.  They talk about "recycling" the patient's own blood that they suction out off of the spine, but I actually don't know if they will be doing that with Annie.  I would suspect and hope that they would. 

At 33:30 they work to further bend the second rod to the needed shape as they continue to work to get it placed.

At 37:10 they talk about how they use donated bone grafts to help the bones of the spine fuse together.

At 41:10 they talk about pain management.

At 42:30 they talk about issues involved with more medically fragile children.

At 46:30 they get both rods in place and basically spend the rest of the video (and beyond the video) working on tweaking and twisting the rods for further correction.