I had an L6-S1 lumbar fusion in with the pedicle screws and rods. My surgery was successful and my x-rays show complete fusion. I play some sports but have resumed full activity for the past few years. I'm now 37 and have had a dull low back pain for the past 6 months, which I've recently felt in the sacrum. I now want to get the hardware out, but my doctor thinks I'm doing well and shouldn't bother getting them out. I've also heard stories of the screws breaking or causing problems in the bones. I don’t think I've experienced that yet. What makes the screws break? Any thoughts?
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As I know it is not common to get the screws removed. At this far out from your surgery, they are not performing any structural function within your spine. The screws themselves are not likely to cause any damage to the other tissues in the spine if you leave them in. I can’t recommend hardware removal, but the one time it probably can be of help is in those patients where they are placed at L6-S1. As I read this seems to be a level where the screws can cause some soft tissue irritation. I really don’t know what makes screws break.
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