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Bone Growth Stimulator Implant Removal

Spinal fusion surgery is a major ordeal with many risks. Besides the challenges that the complexities of bones and nerves present to the surgeon, recovery can be long, painful and complicated.

To accelerate postoperative healing, surgeons sometimes implant a bone growth stimulator. It will need to be removed after healing is complete.

  1. Bone Growth Stimulator

    • Spinal fusion isn't as easy to create as it is to write. Bringing bones together--often using rods, pins and other devices--is very complicated. During spinal fusion surgery, the surgeon might implant a bone growth stimulator directly on the site or sites of bones that are not properly joined together.

      Two lead wires called cathodes are attached to the non-joined site. They connect to a small generator that provides power for typically up to nine months. The constant low-voltage alternating current delivered to the site helps stimulate bones to create osteoblasts, the cells that begin new bone development. The idea is that with a little help, the bones can grow together.

    Removal

    • After a surgeon has determined that the bones have joined--or if the generator has finally given out--a removal procedure is necessary. The surgeon performs another invasive surgery to remove the generator.

      If the stimulator has been successful, bone will have formed around the ends of the cathodes. The surgeon can either cut or tug and break the cathode wires. The surgeon can then easily remove the generator and close the patient back up.

      The removal operation is an inpatient operation--equal in depth and invasiveness to the original fusion surgery. Recovery time varies by individual and the exact location of the implant. But because of the nature of the surgery, expect at least three weeks recovery for the deep wounds, and potentially longer if any adjustments to the fusion or other procedures are folded into the operation.

      Pain is usually severe and requires morphine and other opiate-based painkillers following surgery. However, someone who has undergone spinal fusion might find the removal operation less painful that the fusion itself, which is far more involved. Although lots of rest and limited movement at first might be ordered, a surgeon might prescribe physical therapy operation to regain strength and mobility after the operation.

    Possible Complications

    • In some cases, cathode removal can cause tissue damage in the area around the removal site--particularly if the surgeon has difficulty breaking the cathode free. Because of this, semi-invasive and non-invasive bone growth stimulators have been developed. However, in some cases the less-invasive versions might not be as effective as the invasive implants.

      When examining fusion surgeries and bone growth stimulators, talk with your surgeon about the pros and cons of an invasive implant and what will be most effective for you.

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