I had surgery in 2012 when I had a crushed disk. The Surgeon reccomended Pedicle Screws. I was a professional dancer and surfer. Now I can not walk and I’m in constant apin from permanant nerve damage from the screws. I urge the FDA to ban these screws so no one else ruins their life as I did.

I had a spinal fusion in 2015 with Stryker Xia 3 system. Almost immediately after surgery I was septic with a rare bacteria called Serratia marcescens. I was back in OR a week later to clean out infection. After 3.5 weeks in the hospital I was discharged with 6 weeks of IV antibiotics. Last week I had my hardware removed for a spinal infection. Yep, serratia marcescens. This infection had been brewing in my spine for 7 years. My infectious disease dr & surgeon believe this infection developed due to improperly disinfected hardware. I am once again back on IV antibiotics for two months at home. I am so done with this!

Hi, I had a lumbar fusion in 1998 at L5-S1 with the Medtronic spinal fixation system using Dyna-Loc screws and plates. For the past 23 years I thought I had titanium screws and plates, however, I had them removed 2 weeks ago and found out they are surgical steel. I suffered for the last 14 years trying to find out what was wrong with me. I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, but my rheumatologist said there was something else going on because my x-rays did not show the damage for the amount of pain I was in. I’ve been on heavy pain meds for the last 7 years including morphine, hydrocone, and nerve pain meds. I saw another surgeon in 2018 who did not recommend surgery at that time and suggested I look elsewhere for a solution. I am on my 4th psoriatic arthritis medication of Stelara injections, after orencia, humira, and otezla had failed. The pain doctors were at the point of installing a morphine pump when I found an article talking about a rare systemic reaction to titanium implants that could cause an inflamed autoimmune reation . I talked it over with my pain Dr and suggested that I have them removed before installing the pump and he agreed. Now they have been removed and I have instantly noticed a difference. I was feeling like I had to go to the bathroom all day long every day and even went to a urologist because of the pain down there and instantly after surgery it is gone. I no longer feel like I have to go, now I go like normal. I am now walking without a cane. It will take some time to see if the pain in my arms and legs will dissipate but I am hopeful. Meanwhile, I have lost everything, my home, 4 cars, my ability to work, and put a strain on my family that is hard to convey. Social security denied my claims likely because of my age and because in the judges own words, even though I had been diagnosed with disorders that could cause the amount of pain that I claimed to be in, she just didn’t believe me. After I get the doctors to put in writing what was causing my issues I will be filing again and this time I will file in court if necessary. But since the surgeon who put the hardware in and didn’t recommend they be removed after 2 years when the fusion was solid as the fad approval stated they were only to be used in patients who were having them removed and the pain didn’t start until 10 years later, Michigan statute of limitations is only 6 years, I don’t have a case. Not entirely sure if there is a case for failing to diagnose with the surgeon I saw in 2018, but I feel it is unlikely. I have no clue about liability of the manufacturer. Feeling both hopeful of my recovery, and hopeless now my life has been thrown so far off track.

I had a fusion 10 years ago it lasted 30 days exactly then they had to go in and put rods and screws in L4-L5 and honestly haven’t had any problems until last November one of my screws broke and my body is full of infection and I’ve been on antibiotics since last November, I’m scheduled for surgery number 3 on October 18 th to have all my hardware removed and a wound vac out in place and some of the fluid they get sent off to make sure it’s not become cancerous. I’ve lost a $20 hour job with great benefits and will not be able to return to the workforce so I’m praying someone will be held liable for this pain and suffering

i been reading all these posts, i have 8 screws broken in two, some are fracturing my disks now. they are talking about a whole spinal redo which i am terrified to get at this point. i have lost 7 inches in height. my question to all is doo you know who manufactured your screws? i am trying to sue this company. mine were xia 3 stryker. app its not easy to sue your doc or these companies. someone needs to be held accoubtable. mine started in my twenties, last surgery was 6 yrs ago, ive been having problems with the screws ever since my twenties aand the fusions have not taken. now at 53 i have 8 broken screws and looking at a life threatening surgery and about 2 yrs of recovery. if anyone has the same screws please let me know, maybe we can somehow get a class action suit.

Hello everybody I also feel your pain. I am in NJ and im 39 years old, I had my first fusion on of the L5/S1 on April 7 2014. My surgeon tried everything to help my pain for 5 months before committing to surgery. I trust my Surgeon 100%, my girlfriend is an Orthopedic RN and deals with this stuff everyday and she set me up with him so I do not hold him accountable for any errors, I understand the success rate is not 100%. I felt great two weeks post op, I had no more pain and I thought it was a success but slowly the pain was creeping back until I was back to being bed ridden again. At my one year post opp appointment we did Xrays like always except this time showed one of my four screws had broke in half. My Surgeon and I were shocked, I wasn’t prepared to see a broken screw, yes I was in alot of pain but a broken screw never crossed my mind. It was a very hard thing to grasp as you all know, very upsetting because I knew I was going to have to endure another surgery. I delayed having surgery right away because I had a vacation planned and I wanted to spend the summer with my kids. My screws were made by Depuy. I am now 5 days away from my second surgery which is going to be much more in depth because they will go back in through the front to cut away any bone that did form than remove all of the hardware, replace the cage and use a synthetic grafting material this time than I will be flipped over and rods and screws will be placed in the back side and the screws will hold the cage in. As you all know I am not looking forward to this again. This has really put a hardship on me and my family. I am on SSD but that doesn’t pay for the mortgage etc, to make it worse my mortgage company is denying me a modification. I have no idea what I am going to do, I certainly did not ask for any of this and its quite depressing, also there is no possible way I will be able to return to my previous employment even if I do improve after the next surgery. I do not want to stay home for the rest of my life so I am praying for relief from my up coming surgery but I have no Idea if I will be able to return to the workforce and I do not even know what I can even do for employmenif if I am able to get moving again. I Know all of you can understand where I am coming from. The big question I have at the moment is how can I get my hardware that is currently broken or all of the screws for that matter. What if I had a defective screw? There’s also a small piece that my Surgeon said may be best to leave in the bone as opposed to making more of a mess trying to get it out which I can see his point but I would like to know what is in my body. I asked the PA about having my screws and she said the hospital usually won’t allow that due to it being medical waste etc but I guarantee the manufacturer of the screws, who will be present at the surgery, will get them. I feel that I should be able to have them inspected by someone to see if the screw is faulty or if that particular broken screw is the type of metal that it is supposed to be because I have to carry it in my body for life. Does anyone know anything about my rights to the hardware, I mean it was purchased for me on behalf of my insurance company so I kinda think it is mine. Very stressed out at the moment, any help to the legal rights of the screws would be appreciated. Thankyou for listining, Sam

Hi Everyone. I completely and wholeheartedly feel every single one of your pain. I live in WNY. On my 10th surgery, in 2009, (commonality by all), I had 6 pedicle screw’s put in my back of my neck. I felt great for a time, until December 2012, when I turned and looked at someone. I didn’t get out of bed for 4 days after that. (Did you know that Medotronics manufacturers’ explicitly say, Do not put pedicle screw’s in cervical spine, but if you do, do not take them out, because you could very likely kill the patient. Well, my neurosurgeon wanted those babies out to save his own ass. He scheduled me right away and I got an infection in my neck, because whoever stapled my neck, left a pinky gap, all the way down my spine. On the 4th night, my neurosurgeon came to the end of my bed, and said, “Marcy.” I said, “What?” He said, ” You got to get out of here.” I said, “Ok.” The next morning, one of the P.A’s comes in and starts to take out the ful, overflowing drain out of my back. My girlfriend says to the P.A. about my incision “that looks infected. He ignored her and my low grade fever and told a nurse to clean me up and bandage me. The no glove nurse put a gauze over my incision and gave me my discharge papers and my first appointment. it is a little known fact that the hospital only makes money, if they can get you out of the hospital before 2 days are up. That is their goal with each and every patient that enters the hospital. It is Always: Bottom-line about the money, between these neurosurgeons’ and hospitals; like we are cattle. Disabled people do not work like that. We are chronically – acutely ill at the same time. Most of us, by the very ones, whom took the Hippocrates Oath to protect us and do not harm us. I went back to my follow-up appointment 6 days later. As he took each staple out, bottom to top, my girlfriend said he got whiter and whiter; just like Caspar the ghost. Then it was hurry up and sign paperwork, (which by the way always draw a line down the page after you sign and sign on the line you drew, because the Head Nurse wrote in under my signature only on this surgery though.) and straight to surgery to save my life. This is really just the beginning of my story, but I can only take it in small doses, because of how corrupt it actually becomes into this present day. Know this: I am still under Statute of Limitations. I am about to turn this around, not only for me, but for All of you and others. it goes deeper than our spinal cords. But: This is what I am gunning for now. Help for me, you, accountability across the board. Protection for others. I’ll continue my story tomorrow.

I, like many here, am having horrible pain from my Zimmer Dynesys system. I had mine implanted on 2 separate times in 2009 on L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1. I was then in a car accident in 2012. My pain has been intense that was literally where a screw is. A Neurosurgeon here in Southern California finally saw that the screw was loosened and I had surgery last March to implant a device called Coflex and remove the loosened screw. I was under for 7 hours and he was unable to remove ANY hardware. I still have so much pain it literally fells like a knife in my low back. Zimmer refused to give my Doctor a “removal kit” until now and I’m having surgery in 2 weeks to remove all hardware. The very sketchy thing is that they want the hardware back!!! I said I wanted the screw that has causes so much pain and the hospital said they couldn’t do that and I want to know why. I was assured in 2009 this was going to help me for a length of 20+years and now I am on major back surgery 4. I read that this system was not approved for back surgery as a stand alone implant and I received it without fusion after it was voted 5 to 1 with FDA against it.

Just happened across this site and was reading testimonials and was shocked to see my own. I submitted in 2013. To add to it, in 2014 I had to have a second lumbar surgery to remove the hardware. One of the screws broke! Also dicovered that one screw had been put in to far and tip come out of vertebra and was touching the nerves. The original surgeon wouldn’t listen about pain I was in after he did this. He would tell me the was no way I could feel the screws. I am still trying also to find a lawyer. I’ve been turned away by several. After seeing how everyone is suffering, I don’t understand how this continues. These surgeons should never be allowed to continue.

I to had spinal surgery, 2007. 6 months later the surgeon was taking the screws and rods out claiming I was allergic to the titanium. I discovered he used a device from Medtronic and it was illegal to do the surgery from the back. This was 7 years later. I am on social security and very disabled. You need to get your implant report from the hospital and if you had Medtronic bmp fused in your back you have a lawsuit. I have nerve pain in my legs and it just gets worse. Do some checking because there is also faulty screws that a company sold that were suppose to be titanium and there not. It’s awful we trust doctors to help us only to cripple us.

I have had one back surgery as of April 2014. I felt good for a while, but now the pain is just excruciating. I work a full time job, take care of my 10 year of daughter, do all the house/yard work. Here in the last few months the pain has increased i cannot do anything without being in pain. The numbess in my legs is coming back. For about the last month it almost feels like i can feel something moving in my back when i walk, i literaly cannot run my legs will not let me. Not that i would want to but i’ve tried twice and fell both times, i fell hard! I am only 33 and I cannot live a normal life with my 10 year daughter, it is very depressing! I’m just learning that the screws that were used in my back may not be FDA approved… is that grounds for contacting a lawyer?? if so then we all need to figure something out and get our lifes back!!! Good luck to you all!!!!

Hello friends.. I am just googling along and found this page.. Today, I have hade the pleasure of receiving my IME Report stating I’m 100%ntotally disabled and require “Revision” Lumbar Fusion @ L5-S1 w an intern bone stim due to pedicle screw non fixation / migration of set screw and also Psuedoarthrosis!! Hoooraaaay Me!! 34 years old, 3 kids, Fell off a cooling tower at work… And Im afraid to sneeze or fart ALL THE TIME! To the poster who mentioned “Class _ Action” Lawsuit… Sign me up! I’m all ears!

why would anyone not choose—- titan spine hardware—– as of sept. 8, 2014 they give a warranty and a guarantee on their implanted devices and the cost of the 2nd surgery if needed . Their implanted devices are permanent. I expect that medicare and V A will now require a warranty on their patients if not something is surely wrong. Let watch what FDA now requires because of patients with defective hardware and the cost of the 2nd surgery that they call revision surgery. It appears to me that there has been a massive conspiracy to make the patient pay for the revision surgery—especially now that titan spine implants are permanent.

Hi all….I have a similar “horror” story of back surgery with failed hardware… I am at wits end and I want someone held accountable for all of the hell I have been thru and am STILL going thru. Jan 7, 2009 I had fusion with hardware placement from T2 – L4…ended up with broken screws at the lower end of BOTH rods…had surgery to repair those screws and add more hardware from L4 thru/including bilateral SI joints (that took TWO surgeries, 5 days apart!!)…. Now, after terrible pain, immobility issues…I am preparing for surgery number FOUR to replace a broken rod AND screws that have ‘malfunctioned’ and allowed one rod to become “detached” from the pedicle screws. I WANT ANSWERS AND THE COMPANIES WHO MANUFACTURE THIS SH*T TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PAIN, SUFFERING AND MISERY I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH AND CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

now that titan spines implant hardware is meant to be permanent and it is made of the same metal why would the others say theirs needed to come out unless it was a concerted way to get paid for the 2nd surgery which they call revision allowing them to include removing faulty hardware and the patient pays once again.at any ratr the FDA now will need to make changes because the others are no longer similar—they have a guarantee and its permanent.

TITAN SPINE now offers a warrantee on their hardware—-but the main thing that this has revealed is that their hardware is permanent———so now that tells me the only reason the others indicated that their hardware was to be removed was to cover up the expense of the 2nd surgery which they call revision. All prior patient have been betrayed concerning law suits over defective hardware and removal. I hope the FDA makes a quick change about this——————————–

I had lumbar/sacral surgery November 2009. I did great. I was walking a mile or more afterwards. Approximately July 2011 I began having right groin pain which was severe. I thought it was from my hip. Gradually my right leg stared becoming numb so surgery was necessary. In November 2011 Lumbar 2 and 3 were fused to the previous lumbar. Not to mention, a small nick in the spinal dura, I was told by the surgeon. I was , also informed it had a blood patch. I found out later the surgeon did the “last ditch effort” by placing a postage stamp size patch over the dura to start with. Doctors do not like to listen to patients. Number one: I kept telling them the hardware in my back was hurting. If it made me bionic I could take it. i tried to throw some humor in. Number two : something else was wrong.. My side kept swelling. I sleep on my left side. I never got headaches. The surgeon’s PA told me to go to my medical MD who told me to go back to the surgeon. i finally begged ( and I mean begged ) the surgeon’s PA to order a CT scan and send me to whatever doctor I needed to go to. he ordered it. I had a massive CSF leak and had to return to surgery January 2012. I had only left side pain and swelling ( no headaches ). End of that for now. I was sent to a pain center for injections to control the constant pain i was in. i complained to everyone about the hardware in my back hurting and the pain that “would me to my knees ” in my mid back. I , later, learned it was Lumbar 1 with a pedicle screw in it and it was fractured ( unknown when ). Right ! The pain doctor , while giving me an injection , approximately 4 -5 months post op happened to state there was a screw out. Next time, there was another screw out and how did the surgeon bend the bar like that. I don’t remember exactly when he showed me the scan of L1 with the screw in it and the fracture. I am not certain but probably fall of 2012. I returned to the orthopedic surgeon’s office , saw the PA and requested the hardware be removed as it was so painful. He waited about a month before ordering a CT scan which showed I was leaking from the spinal dura . I decided to call a neuologist I had been to to seek a neurosurgeon. it just happened there was a new one seeing patients at her office every Tuesday. I wanted honest answers . I was told the spinal dura was not fixable. He said he could patch it to death and it would still leak. As for removing the hardware I was informed I would need reconstruction surgery to repair my back. I would be under anesthesia 10-12 hours. I was in shock. I was 67 years old then. How could I survive that surgery is what I was thinking. He suggested a spinal cord stimulator. The first one was placed by the pain center doctor. I fell and the leads came loose. The second one was done by the neurosurgeon April 2013. I was under anesthesia 4 hours and he almost gave up. When it was turned on by the representatives my greatest fear happened ( which I was told was highly unlikely ). I was shocked ( as when fluid and electricity connect ) as I was having a spinal fluid leak. I failed to mention I had cervical neck surgery with implant in May of 2009 and have been informed that surgery has failed as well. Now , I have felt the hardware or something slip down on the right. I am having right groin pain and hip pain. My hip Xrays show a little arthritis. Getting in and out of bed and automobiles is extremely painful as the hardware moves and pinches I feel like I have thinks poking in different parts of my back. A friend told me about a commercial on tv regarding a class action case regarding screws coming out and hardware flopping around. I have several friends watching for the number and my aquatic physical therapist obtaining my medical records. The number starts with 877…. For those of you with failed neck implants if you had the ” INFUSE” there are class actions for that one as well. I have to find out what I had placed for the neck and back

I had my first surgery because I had a blown disc. I was also born with an extra vertabrea with one side fused..so pain pain pain back in 6 mo. I had my low lumbar fused with simmons plating systems…i did everything I was told my husband and kids took care of me…I WANTED TO BE WELL and I did what I could. But, I woke up one morning and the bed was wet. it was soaked from my padding and through. Went to the ER..since the fluid drained out when I got to the ER it was dry. I was sent home. I saw my doctor 3 days later and i kept telling them it was draining…well, my doctor came to take the stitches and he says mary, your draining all over the table..i said I had been calling. so, BOOM surgery the next day they got 16 oz of blood and water. I was mad they wouldnt listen to me. so I go home . well i did not feel real well…i was running a fever of 102 with tylenol. Of corse I was ignored. NOW I was crying my daughter looked and puss was coming through my stitches. I knew they were going to do a central line in my neck that alone freaked me out. So much crying. I made arrangements to go back to the hospital. I was sitting on the toilet when I got up my incision opened up blood water everywhere all my husband wouldnt let me look down it was bad. We called an ambulance. this time my dr. met us there. It was awful. He took the rest of my stitches out and it was all infected it was packed and planned surgery the next day. Taking those stitches out of an infected wound was excreationing god it was bad. well the blood work came back i had a staph infection.you wanna see some drs. hop…and my infection count was high. do we leave the hardware in or out! staph cant be killed on the hardware. GOD I was so burned out, depressed, scared..and I knew that central line was coming. i didnt want another surgery that would be to much…toooo much. So my doc packed it and I was dumped into a salt water tank twice a day to draw out the infection. and it actually worked…it healed from the inside out. its two weeks later and time to go home…except this time I had nursing care I had a nurse over every 8 hours to tend to that central line and my medications..I was still in pain a yr. later. but, my doctor refused surgery. so I went from dr. to dr. to dr. noone would touch the hardware. I wanted it out. 19 years that went on…suffering in silence. I moved to CA. I had no problem. Surgeon said we’ll investgate it. My hardware was broken. so they took it all out and refused it with hardware. I was so disappointed about the hardware I wanted it out. So, 6 months later a basket case he says lets take ’em out….OMG… You know what they took them out I AM IN NO PAIN…I havent had a tylenol in a yr. My heart weeps for you if your still suffering. It has been a long scarey life. You miss so much. Your depressed…ALL I can say is dont give up, don’t give up all that and disability refused me can you believe it…I AM VERY interested in a class action suit ….WE DESERVE ONE… and the drs. should quit giving false hope using the glorys of pedicle screw implants..they manipulate us..and we are so sick we give in…its not right. I kept my hardware. someday I may need it. STAY STRONG you’re gonna make it.

I’ve had 4 back surgeries , since my last on in 2010 I’ve had a screw break into causing me pain clumbness ,nunbess, and other symptoms . Is there any law suits for a tityium screw breakage and what can it do to my body? My dr. Has only suggested a hardware pain block test and my insurance will not pay for it .

I am 46 and have had 3 spinal surgeries and am scheduled for my 4th in late July. When doing the x-rays for my 4th surgery last fall my surgeon realized that my screw had broken completely in two. I have a lawyer working on my disability case as I have DDD and softening bones but am wondering if I should have a lawyer look into the manufacturer of the screws and see if there around grounds for a lawsuit. Any feedback would be appreciated!! Never a day without some kind of pain! My third surgery was in March of this year and was a redo of my previous cervical surgery where they did two openings in the 9 hour surgery. One in front of my neck and one long incision in the back and installed multiple plates and 18 screws. I am still recuperating from it. Every time they fix and stabilize one area of my spine with titanium the disc above or below what was fixed blows out on me and I currently have bone rubbing bone in my lumbar area!

I had a cervical disc replacement and fusion three years ago. I also have broken screws. My neurosurgeon moved off two months after my surgery and pawned me off on a pain managment dr. I got to the point to where I could not work any longer and lost my good insurance so pain managment didn’t want to treat me anymore. I had to fall on my last resort, the VA. after a year of waiting to see a doctor, they took x-rays mri and cats and found my screws were broke. The VA neurosurgeon said, “I’m scared to touch it.” So now I am going to another doctor this week outside the VA. Surely there is a lawsuite somewhere in here.

Have had to spine surgeries about to have revision spine surgery done due to pseudoarthrosis ( failed spine surgery) the neurosurgeon did a real poor job on my spine surgeries been livig with intolerable pain taking pain meds but they really don’t help dr said I had swollen joints loose joint loose hardware and compression of nerves and now because of the first doctors mistakes I have to get all the hardware removed from L5-S1 level and he is going to extend the fusion from L4-L5-S1 dont understand how one surgery turns into three surgeries the damage is done my new spine doctor said that my spine is currently a mess wow really worried about going through with this third surgery have lost the use of my left leg and now im concerned about losing the use of another leg or a arm or all four confused and in pain anyone have any suggestions all ears

So reading all these comments I wonder are there any good cages, screws & rod for one’s spine?

Like several before me I have read almost everyone of these comments about broken rods and screws. My first back surgery in Jan 2012 resulting in two titanium rods with about 20 screws went well. 9 months later while reaching for an empty box I felt a crunch, followed by severe pain. An xray revealed I had broken one of the rods. Additional surgery in Nov 2012 included a splice of the broken section. Unfortunately I started to have excruciating pain. For the next 5-6 months the only way I could try to sleep was in my recliner. I could not lay flat on either my back or stomach. A third surgery was required in July 2013 determined that screws had come loose and were causing lots of pain. The screws were tightened and an additional extension was added in the T section. The surgery was a success and I was walking with minimal pain in 2 days. My wife almost lost me 3 times from complications. I am very thankful for all the attention that I received from dedicated nurses and doctors for the next 8 days. I have tried to contact lawyers to investigate either and individual law suit or a class action law suit. To date 3 lawyers have denied my request. My research has revealed that Medtronics has spent MILLIONS of dollars fighting law suits.

I was wanting to know if all of you on here that have broken screws would get a hold of me on facebook. you can look me up Misty Tom Lawrence. If you cant add me as a friend send me a message. I am wanting to get a class action lawsuit together. we need justice for ourselves!! this isnt fair. I will be having my broken fusion fixed June 2014. They will be leaving the broken part of the screw in my spine due to that its too risky to take it out. The new screws will go in my S1. Im so upset about having to go through this again!! Please get a hold of me..thanks

I see more and more people on here with broken hardware. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE STOPPED FROM HURTING OTHERS!! We have all lost our quality of life. We cant let others. Im so sorry for all of you. I wish some lawyers would do a class action lawsuit on this. This isnt fair to us. I went in having my spinal fusion thinking i would be ok after i recovered. But here i sit almost 5 years later. Im not able to do what i used to do. Please lawyers..reach out to us!!

This has scared me and worries me.

After reading all these comments, I don’t feel so alone. I’ve been in the hospital so much like many of you. I want my old body back so badly. My last surgery was cervical with a plate and screws in front of neck after fusion. I have 2 titanium rods and a stimulator implanted to help my legs to walk. I have gained weight. Waaaay too much and want to know if there are exercises that are safe to do. By the way, two months after my flexible rods were implanted, I felt a snap in my back. One rod had gent to a near c shape with the screws hanging in there. My doctor took X-rays and was planning on going in to fix it, but 1 week later I felt that snap again and called him. By the grace of God the rod had snapped back in place with the screws intact. I’m like most. I as super active now I can’t do much at all. 10 min then rest etc . . ANY IDEAS on weight loss ?

I had surgery on march of 2008 and 2 of my pedicel screws are broken I have 4 more that aren’t as of now! I am in extreme pain I just learn that the FDA Took the procedure I had off the market!

I suffer from flat back syndrome . In February of 2013 I had a pedical removal osteotomy together with Smith Pedersen procedure and I have a fusion from T4 including the other Thoracic vertebrae, all of the Lumbars and anchored in the sacrum. The hardware was supplied by Depuy of Cobalt Cromium. I am facing revision surgery because both of the rods have broken. My surgeon tells me he has four other patients that have both rods have broken. Do you know of any other law suits against Depuy for defective rods?

I did not realize there were so many with broken hardware. I had spinal reconstruction- L5 – T10 on 9/25/12 which was a 14 hr surgery. I have DDD, degenerative scoliosis and kyphosis. By the time I had this surgery, I had already had L4-5 , L5-s1 partial laminectomy/discectomy 4/16/09 and then within 5 months L3-4/ L4-5 collapsed and I had to have fusion with pedicle screws and plate on 9/3/09. I continued to get worse and slowly my spine became deformed and I was bent over so that I had to lift my head to see in front of me. Long story, but I was finally approved for social security disability 4/4/12 by adm law judge. Finally, I had insurance (medicare) and the spinal reconstruction was scheduled for 9/25/12 and within 5 months both rods broke and the screws were loose. I had to have the surgery redone Feb 9, 2013. Now, I have been having popping, creaking and a lot of pain. I know something is broke again, my surgeon ordered xrays but I think I will need to go to the ER before I have chance to go get the xrays. I don’t know what kind of screws/hardware I have but it should not have broken twice within 5 months of surgery. I am now so down about my health since I basically can’t do anything if activity is involved, I can’t enjoy my grandsons like I used to,

I have 3 screws that broke and are causing excruciating pain. I contacted my surgeon and was told the screws are garbage. I refuse to take the pain meds due to COPD and liver compromisation due to the use of oxy and other perscribed meds. I was contacted by a law firm in Texas and they went after Medtronis for the Infuse implants that I had told them I did not have. They just sent me a letter stateing they were not going to persue this matter further, and to go to my surgeon to have them removed. I was under the knife for 12 hours to stabilize the 4 levels of my lumbar spine and know I have an extremely high chance of not makeing it out of the anestesia this time. I guess I am just supposed to go through life with the Metalosis the implants have caused and the feeling of going campimg and laying with a softball sized rock under my back just above the beltline. I am 56 and was told the complications will cause death in the next 1-2 years. Thanks a lot for modern medicine and the great job the FDA does to prevent bad drugs and products to be used on us. I now know what it feels like to be a Guinea Pig or lab rat. But other than that I am just freaking great.

I had a decompression and spinal fusion on my L4/L5. I had surgery on April 3,2009. Two of the screws on the bottom broke right in half. My surgeon NEVER told me!! I had a spinal cord stimulator put in in Aug 2012 but before I had that my new surgeon did an xray and found the screws. he asked if I knew they were broke. and I cried and said I had no idea. I went back and asked my original surgeon when they broke and he said he knew they were broke. he didn’t see a point in telling me cause it wouldn’t have changed anything. he said if he replaced them or took them out it wouldn’t of taken my pain away. so here I sit as I type this w two broken screws in my spine. I am NOT the same woman I was before this surgery. I was only 31 when I had it. im 35 now. I regret it everyday!! it has not only affected me but has affected my family. they suffer cause I suffer. I was always independent and doing everything. I used to work like crazy to help take care of home and now I cant do that. I never imagined my life like this. I want to file a lawsuit but was told it has to be a class action lawsuit. well IM READY TO DO THAT NOW!! this is not fair. NOBODY should have to live in pain like I do. the devil couldn’t even handle this pain. ITS NOT FAIR!! please contact me to get more detailed info. I have ALL of my drs records.

What are the odds of a Viper Pedicle Implant that was done on my lower back L4 last August 18, 2009, that left me paraplegic as to this days. Another neurosurgeon has finally remove 2 screw on one side of my spine because it was loose then replace it with stem cell (bone grafting). Because of how we are in trying to figure out what happen we have missed the timeline for the 2 1/2 yrs of Statute of Limitation in State of New York. When my husband retired as a NYSP we have never dream that he will also have to work full time on a minimum wage and also take care of me at home due to my disability. I have worked as Nurse since 1992 and resigned for work on 2003 because of my back pain. But in 2009 there was no avoiding the symptoms and that’s why I end up going to the same Neurosurgeon who perform my first back surgery on 1998. So for now, we are striving steps by steps in getting by with this financial crisis we’re on. I sometimes wish that I have died on that operating table to see my husband today struggle financially with no assistance of any kind. I wish there is one more option we could do just to see one more glimpse of hope with our present situation.

My husband has the exact situation as many and though we have insurance, it is $1100 per month with a 10K out of pocket. He has a broken screw and a loose screw and in on pain meds, still in constant pain. The Dr. just shrugs his shoulders and says it\\\’s rare but it happens. Would like to find folks who can still get involved in a class action suit and would be willing to engage in one.

Y Has anyone had scar tissue and bone spurs developed around their implant? I didn’t get past two years before I was back on the table for that. I had noticed I had noticed I was shuffling right foot and had a lot of pain ,that is called drop foot. I haven’t hit one year yet already hurting again

Tired of all this pain and broken screws lets get together and find help

Im in the same situation as many of you. I have had two back fusions and within short periods of time screws broke, now I have a broken screw in my nerve and they cant remove the screw because if they do my cage will fall because a new screw cant be put in because of not enough bone growth. So now what , Im 39 and have three kids who I cant do alot with do to my immobitlity. Im in such misery it effects my everyday life and attitude. I also have drop foot now since this surgery. I know of four others in michigan that used the same surgeon and have had the same screws break. We all need to get together so this stops. I still owe money from my first surgery. I have medicare and I am permantly disabled thanks to all this. We at least need our medical paid for and help with living expences this is a nightmare!

I’ve had two spine surgery’s both went well but now two years later one of the screws have broken. This is to many people with the same problems something needs to be done, MY SPINE is my MOBILITY. Without it what’s left of me?

My broken screw was discovered at my first check up following surgery and fusion of C5&6, Doctor did not care and offered no relief or explanation. 18 years later still in constant pain, and no relief in sight.

My 16 year old son underwent Posterior spinal fusion from T4-T11 using Medtronic 1/4 inch stainless steel implants with use of allograft bone graft for spine fusion. This was on 6/17/2011. It was a difficult recovery period for him, nevertheless he recovered with some pain from time to time. A week & 1/2 ago, he awoke with extreme pain in the surgical site and stated that “he felt like something from his back was coming through to his chest in front” Started taking Ibuprofen to get through the pain thinking he would feel better, only to be on bedrest for a whole 9 days & trying not to move as any movement was making the pain worse. I finally contacted his surgeon and made the appt. Xrays showed that 2 of the Medtronic screws had broken off and this is the reason he was having so much pain. I was shocked beyond words as this is supposed to be in his body for life. Dr. asked if he had a car accident, had fallen or done something to warrant this? He had not done anything, is not active nor in sports as guards his back and was only out of surgery 1 1/2 year. The surgeon has said that my son was the 4th kid with this issue. He would have to undergo another surgery to correct this problem and possibly have another fusion further down with a bridge of sorts. In the meantime this now 17 year old kid in 11th grade is unable to move much, has not been able to go to school, having constant pain nonstop. The surgeon said it was clearly a defective screws. My question is what is my recourse legally with a Manufacturer that is making defective surgical screws causing this to happen and having patients going back to undergo another serious surgery? Does anyone know what I can do? What type of Attorney do I see? Is there a Class action suit going on with this Company? We reside in Southern California All I want is for this company to make good on the stress and problems this has brought my son and other children as per the Surgeon saying he had 4 other cases. Please, someone let me know what my options are here, time is of the essence

In 2009 I had major surgery for adult scoliosis. My fusion was with 2 DePuy titanium rods, 20 pedicle screws and bone grafts. In 2011, had a second back surgery due to the deterioration of 2 discs above original surgery also having instrumentation. The problem I am dealing with now is that one of the rods fractured at the L3-4 level. I thought titanium was virtually unbreakable. Now again, I am in so much pain from the base of my neck all the way down into my sacrum and have to go in for my 3rd back surgery.

I had four spinal fusion with bone graft off hip and six pedical screws I have hurt every day since and it has been 7 years and the pain just keeps getting worse anyone having same problem please contact me

we are all in trouble. Yes i have broken screws also the pain. we all have to find one firm that will do a class action for us all. the only answer.if any of you find another way. Im with you.I will be going to have shots in my spine on tuesday 2-19-13

The more I read the more horrified and scared I become. I wish I had bee less trusting and researched spinal surgeries.I was to have a stabilization on L4-L5. The surgeon told me I had scaring and at my age (49) would not get better only worse. I had surgery on 03/01/11. The hospital stay was a nightmare, the surgeon tore he spinal cover and I had spinal fluid leak (the surgeon denied)Its in the OR report along with stating an intrabody cage was placed. The surgeon refused to tell me details of surgery and my follow up lased 4 months till I gave up my last appointment he avoided talking about my back but wanted to plan surgery on my neck! I made no complaint about my neck. The last two years has been constant pain, not being able to stand very long, walk very much,sit very long and last week the pain got so bad I had an x-ray that revealed a broke screw. And to top all this of, I have sought out three other surgeons and one pain specialist, All have told me in reviewing tests before and after there was no indication that I ever needed surgery, and the surgeon had not performed the surgery I thought. All tests only reveal 6 screws and no other hardware. Since, I have looked the surgeon up and he has numerous research papers published. I feel I am not the only patient he has done this to, but he is selective and chooses for his research.

Lori, suggest you read http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/spinal-fusion/lumbar-spine-fusion-degenerative-disc-disease This gives a good explanation as far when a lumbar surgery is indicated and when it isn’t. I question if your original surgery needed to be done? Ask your surgeon which implants were used. Were they regular major company implants? Unfortunately many times multilevel fusion operations patients have more post op pain than prior to surgery. Something your surgeon won’t share with you. There are many articles that can be found regarding conservative management of the spine and very few that advocate major fusion procedures.

If you’ve have any Medtronic Produce or hardware of anykind placed in your body that has broken or malfunctioning READ THIS and RESPOND to the Committee NOW !!! As reported last month by a U.S. Senate Finance Committee report raises new concerns about the safety and effectiveness of BMP-2 also known as bone morphogenetic protein-2, widely used in spinal fusion surgery.The Black Letter is an independent publication with Dr. Sam Wiesel, Professor of Orthopedic surgery at Georgetown University, as executive editor. The Senate Finance Committee report suggests that Medtronic inappropriately interfered with research into BMP-2, putting patients at risk by withholding important information on the adverse events related to use of the drug. “Without public disclosure of their roles, Medtronic marketing department employees collaborated with physician authors to edit–and in some cases, write–segments of published studies,” according to a statement from the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Max Baucus added, “Medtronic’s actions violate the trust patients have in their medical care. Medical journal articles should convey an accurate picture of the risks and benefits of drugs and medical devices, but patients are at serious risk when companies distort the facts the way Medtronic has.”

I’m amazed at the Number of People who have problems with these Titanium Screws and Medtronic’s defective products ! I’ve tried to get Info and No One will respond……I’ve had 2 Fusions , the Screw broke on the 1st one. Therefore I had to have the second Fusion only to have them replace it with the same type of screw. I live in Pain everyday of my life and am trying not to take so many Pain meds. Why hasn’t the FDA Shut this Manufacturer down ?! Why can’t we find someone to help us ?

I had spinal fusion s1_ L4 on March 2012. “from the front” Three months later while bending to tie my shoe I felt a “pop” in my lower back. My X- Ray showed I had a broken screw. My pain had gotten to the point where I could no longer sit, stand or lay down without constantly searching for a better position. When I was able to have another CAT scan, my Dr. and his partner said I had to have another surgery because I did not fuse at all, my Dr. also said that if I wanted to sue the Manufacture he would write a letter for the attorney saying if the screw didn’t break so early on, my back would have fused more likely than not. I had my second surgery on Jan 2013 this time from the back, the first few weeks I felt pretty good, I have been suffering from a lot more headaches and migraines than usual the last migraine waking me up at 3 A.M. sending me into 8 hours of the worst nausea,vomiting,dry heaves and pain I have ever had, and during the dry heave stage felt a “pop” in my low back…I’m experiencing pain again..Dr. said the “pop” could have been stitches..I just had two major back surgery’ s within the last 10 Months…I don’t know if I can handle much more… not sure where to go to from here.

I am a spine surgeon. A lot of surgeons put in implants that the surgeon owns called a Physician Owned Distributor (POD). If your surgeon is using implants from a POD there is a good chance that your surgery done was more than needed to be done to the surgeon could make more money on your case. Simple greed. Many of these implants may be made in a foreign country, such as India, China, etc. The OIG is taking a very slow step at trying to investigate PODs. You should voice your opinion to the OIG if your surgeon uses a off label brand of implants. Find out if your implants were made by a legitimate company that can be found on the Internet. If you can’t find the company or implants on the Internet you may have had a physician who used a POD and made a lot of money on your implants. Go figure, doctors being greedy? I see it all the time and it sickens me.