Tom’s story
Scoliosis, kyphosis, Spinal deformity surgery
Spinal deformity surgery rebuilds Tom' spine – and his daily life
By the time Tom acknowledged that he needed surgery to correct deformities in his spine, his symptoms went well beyond the pain down his legs and all the way into his feet.
The unnatural curves that had developed came with devastating impact: a hump behind his right shoulder that caused him to walk hunched over, and a stabbing feeling on the left side of his rib cage.
"It was pretty ugly," Tom says now. "What was really crazy was how excruciating it would get when I was trying to do normal things, like taking a hot shower."
Tom got a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, showing a detailed view of his spine. He was referred to Mayfield Brain & Spine, where he saw neurosurgeon Dr. Chris McPherson. After viewing the scans from Tom's MRI, Dr. McPherson recommended that he consult with neurosurgeon Dr. Zach Tempel, part of Mayfield's scoliosis and spinal deformity team.
When Dr. Tempel first saw the unnatural curvature in the spine, Tom says, "He just told me I had a really bad case of scoliosis, and he was amazed at what I was able to do – which wasn't a lot."
Dr. Tempel diagnosed two separate spinal deformities: scoliosis, an unnatural side-to-side curvature in the spine; and kyphosis, an abnormal forward rounding in the spine of more than 50 degrees.
"Tom was facing significant degenerative conditions that put a lot of pressure on the vertebrae and discs at several levels in his lumbar spine, affecting the nerves heading down his legs," Dr. Tempel says. "We could repair those levels to ease pressure on the nerves, but the unnatural curves had weakened and destabilized his entire spine. We recommended corrective surgery to create a global solution that would sustain his ability to live a normal life."
Imaging showing the curvature in Tom's spine
Imaging of Tom's spine prior to surgery
Imaging of Tom's spine after surgery
The surgery would come in two phases, involving both Dr. Tempel and Dr. Michael Kachmann, another Mayfield neurosurgeon who works with Dr. Tempel on major spine deformity cases. First, the surgical team would fuse several vertebrae together from the L2-S1 levels of the spine at the base of Tom's lower back.
Tom had custom 3D-printed spinal implants at L4 and L5 that were shaped perfectly to correct the angles of his bones.
In this first procedure, the neurosurgeons use customized 3D-printed implants, rebuilding the spine through the disc spaces using minimally invasive techniques from the front (anterior) and side (lateral).
A couple of days later, they would come back for phase 2: corrective surgery that would realign, straighten and stabilize the spine from T9 (just below the shoulder blades) all the way down to the pelvis.
Before recommending major spinal surgery, Dr. Tempel told Tom that there would be a lengthy recovery period, generally six months to a year. Before the operation, the medical team would conduct additional diagnostic tests, including a bone density test and a myelogram, which uses a contrast dye to visualize the spinal cord and nerve roots to identify any compression or damage. Mayfield also emphasizes the importance of a strong support system to sustain a full recovery.
"Tom's symptoms had progressed to the point where he wasn't able to work or perform basic daily functions," Dr. Tempel says. "We discussed with him at length how the surgery would proceed, including a longer recovery time than most procedures. We were confident we could repair the damage and stabilize a significant portion of the spine. This would give Tom time to heal and build strength in areas that had been degenerating for years."
Tom says he never hesitated.
"They explained everything to me and my wife," he says. "They told me it would be a challenge, and I told them, 'I'm up for it.'"
Tom with Dr. Tempel
Suffering through years of pain
Going back years before the surgery, Tom had always been active. He liked motorcycle drag races and water skiing. His work in construction had him driving trucks and forklifts.
Tom's first spine surgery was roughly a decade ago to clean up damage in several discs. He didn't let it slow his activity, even though the pain was gradually building.
"Next thing I knew, my back was hurting again," Tom says. "I was just walking hunched over, and my ribs were basically stabbing me. I got on medical leave, but when I went back to work, it really got crazy. It got to the point where I was pretty much stuck."
Tom's circuitous route to Mayfield led to his major surgery with Dr. Tempel. He was in the hospital for more than a week. Since the operation, the recovery has been up and down. He's had some uncomfortable fluid buildup in his feet and legs.
Today, Tom is building strength and working toward a more normal life. Several months after the surgery, he's able to walk with a cane. With five grandchildren, he's able to get out more often. And he is grateful for all of that.
"I know the difference between hurt pain and healing pain," he says. "The healing pain can be rough, but I knew it would be. My back is sore, but I don't feel anything like what I was feeling before the surgery. I am really grateful that I had the surgery."
~ Cliff Peale
Hope Story Disclaimer -"Tom's Story" is about one patient's health-care experience. Please bear in mind that because every patient is unique, individual patients may respond to treatment in different ways. Results are influenced by many factors and may vary from patient to patient.
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