, ease pain, and give a better look. Your ribs will make new bone and new ribs will form. Your new ribs will be as strong as your old ribs. This may take 2 to 6 months. ‚
This procedure may be used to: ‚
- Make the size of a rib hump smaller in patients with scoliosis
- Provide bones for grafts when done at the same time as corrective spinal surgery
- Treat problem lung infections
View OriginalView Original
What will the results be?
Pain from your rib hump will be gone. You will look better and feel better about how you look. ‚
What happens before the procedure?
- Your doctor will take your history. Talk to your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are Coumadin ‚ ®, ibuprofen, Aleve ‚ ® (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. You may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your doctor about them.
- When you need to stop eating or drinking before your procedure.
- Your doctor will do an exam and may order:
- You will not be allowed to drive right away after the procedure. Ask a family member or a friend to drive you home.
What happens during the procedure?
Your doctor will decide which ribs to "shortened and how much of the rib to take out. This is based on the severity of your scoliosis and your chest deformity. ‚
- Once you are in the operating room, you will be given a drug to make you sleepy. It will also help you stay pain free during the surgery. The staff will put an I.V. in your arm to give you fluids and drugs.
- There are two ways to do this procedure:
- Open thoracoscopy
- Video-assisted thoracoscopy or VATS ¢ ˆ ’ A thin, flexible scope is put into the chest cavity to help guide the surgery.
- Your doctor will make a cut in your chest. Your doctor will remove 2 inch to 4 inch sections of the ribs causing the rib hump.
- A chest tube may be put in during surgery. This will stay in place for a few days to keep your lungs filled with air.
- The cut is closed with stitches or staples and covered with a bandage. You will be taken to recovery where you will be watched overnight.
- If you are also having a spinal infusion, the same cut may be used.
What happens after the procedure?
- You will go to the Recovery Room and the staff will watch you closely. Your doctor may give you drugs for pain.
- You may have a chest x-ray in the first few days after surgery to check your lungs.
- Based on your surgery, you may have to stay in the hospital for up to a week.
- It may take as long as a few years for your lungs to return to normal.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent an infection
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Fluid or air collect in the lungs
- Collapsed lung
- Puncture of the lining of the lung
- Less lung function
- If scoliosis gets worse, rib hump could come back
Where can I learn more?
National Scoliosis Foundation ‚
http://www.scoliosis.org/resources/medicalupdates/ribthoracoplasty.php ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚