It was used at the beginning without performing a spinal fusion but early results proved fusion as part of the procedure was mandatory, as movement of the unfused spine would cause the metal to fatigue and eventually break. The procedure required the use of a postoperative plaster cast or bracing until vertebral fusion had occurred. Flatback syndrome
Flatback syndrome is a problem that develops in some patients treated with Harrington rod instrumentation, where the rod extends down into lower part of the lumbar spine. Because the Harrington cannot follow the natural lordosis of the lower back (i.e. the backwaist curve), the spine is straightened out into an unnatural position. At first, the unfused spinal segments compensate for the straightening effects, but eventually the discs degenerate and wear down. The patient then develops back pain, has difficulty standing upright, and experiences limitations when walking. Eventually, the problem requires surgery to realign the spine. As exemplified by Pecina and Dapic in the European Spine Journal (February 2007), flatback syndrome is not inevitable and does not happen to every person with a low Harrington rod instrumented fusion – there are many people who have had Harrington rods for decades with no adverse effects. References
External links
Medscape – Modern Posterior Thoracic Instrumentation
20-year follow-up of Harrington instrumentation in the treatment of severe Idiopathic Scoliosis, Pecina & Dapic, European Spine Journal Vol 16 No 2 Feb 2007 (subscription only)
Multiple pterygium syndrome is a cutaneous condition inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Society
Musician Patrick Henry Hughes has a type of this condition. See also
Popliteal pterygium syndrome
List of cutaneous conditions
Datagenno - Escobar Syndrome

References


== External links ==