The possible signs of a failed fusion include chronic back pain, reduced mobility, neuropathic pain, and radicular pain. If pedicle screws loosen, it may result in new or worsening back pain, leading to failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). What Happens If My New Spinal Hardware Breaks Or Shifts? Spinal Fusion Surgery: Uses, Procedure, and Recovery - Healthline I am still very conscious of the incision site and the feeling of the muscles and hardware in my back. The mean torque of screws placed in the lumbosacral junction (L4, L5, and S1, n=54) was 2.141.12Nm, which was significantly higher than those placed in other segments. The first part is the actual surgery, in which the nerves are decompressed and then the metal implants are placed. Apparently this is common as the bones fuse either the screw goes deeper in or out - my case it is on the move outwards but he said 4 months is too early to have it removed. Spinal fusion surgery might also be performed when a patient has: Fractured (broken) bones from a traumatic injury Abnormal curvatures of the spine from conditions like scoliosis An unstable or weak spine due to tumors or infections Degenerative disc disease resulting in mechanical back pain Excessive strain between the screw and bone interface is considered to be the primary cause for screw loosening [12, 22], which could be deteriorated when fusion is failure or the anterior support is inadequate. Persistent Pain The University of Maryland Spine Center states that the most common complication of lumbar fusion surgery is persistent pain 3. Breakage of hardware can also be the result of a particularly unstable spine. If it comes out far enough it can be felt, and sometimes it comes through the skin. Int Orthop. I do not expect complete fusion at this point, but the scan gives a good idea if the fusion process is progressing. Using X-ray radiographs taken the day before removal operations, radiolucent area (wider than 1mm) around the screw and/or the double halo were detected in 20 screws. A clinical and radiologic review is presented of a patient who underwent rigid fixation with L4-5 interbody fusion and L3-4 posterolateral dynamic stabilization with Zimmer Dynamic-to-Optima (DTO) hybrid fusion to non-fusion system (Zimmer Spine, Minneapolis, MN) with hydroxyapatite coated pedicle screws that exhibited lucency on radiographic studies which subsequently disappeared.