Harrington Rod has dissappeared

In 1982 I had a Harrington Rod fused into my spine for severe scoliosis to correct a Double Curvature with rotation.  I have since had two other lower back surgeries.  During a recent xray of my upper back it was discovered that the Harrington rod has vanished!!!  You can still see the wires that were wrapped around the outside of the spine for reinforcement and the screws and hardware in the lower back from the later surgeries.  The doctors and I are puzzeled.   Is this Possible?  What could have happened to the Harrington Rod?  My Double curvature with rotation is back and I have shrunk 4 1/2" in height in the last two years.  Is it possible that the rod has dissolved?  We are looking for answers or suggestions.  Thanks

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the back and neck support forum.

Stacey, I wanted to welcome u to the forum.....sorry I am as stumpted as u and ur dr...wow!!
I do hope someone with experience with these rods can offer some ideas.

"selma"

[sk8flo]

Wow!  A couple of thoughts......you need to go back to the files and x-ray films to confirm the rod was put it.  When was the last time you had an x-ray that showed the rod (you didn't say at what level this was done versus the 'lower' surgeries) which could be as simple as a chest x-ray.

If this was close to the level of your other lower spine surgeries, again you need to look at films to see if the tip appeared closest to these surgeries - get the 'operative report' from the hospital medical record.  I wonder if the rod had slipped downward and at the time of the lower spine surgery it was removed as it was in the way and was removed thinking it had done its work and was no longer needed.  

Things have been known to migrate away from their original position over years - so you might need a more thorough body scan to look for the metal.

This is detective work and you might start from most recent films and work backward to see when was the last time the rod was visible.  I also would try to get the original films, not just dictated reports.

[erica943]

Hello,
I find this very odd as well. But one thing I can add is that I've read that not all people that think they have harrington rod's actually do. I think it depends on what the date was that you had it. I find it so odd that it could acually dissolve but at the same time, how could they forget to insert it. They would know you are going to have upcoming xrays. I had my rod placed in my back in 1978.  One thing I am wondering is, how has your movement been. I can not move my back backwards and if I bend forward my back is always straight and I always have very straight posture since i can't bend my back. How much have you been able to bend? has this changed?
erica