Posterior Spine Fusion Surgery Thoracolumbar spine home care (1194)

Key points below


Thoracolumbar spine home care: important things to know when caring for your child

What can be done for pain?

Your child will have some pain and soreness after surgery. It may be caused by the incision or the way your child was positioned during surgery. The soreness will go away slowly over several weeks
or months.
During this time, your child may need pain medicine.

Dietarrangement of food including, grains, vegetables, and fruits.

Bathing and scar care

School

Dental Precautions

Tattoos or body piercings

Your child should not get a tattoo or body piercing for at least one year. There is a higher chance of infection due to the implants.

Smoking

Smoking is never recommended. Being around smoke can delay wound healing after surgery. It may increase the risk of the spine not healing. This can increase the chance of the rods breaking. It can also lead to lung infections.

Activity Guidelines

These activities and times are guidelines only. They will vary for each child. Please talk with the health care team before starting an activity. Your child should not do anything that will cause
more than just a little pain.

If your child was in physical therapy before surgery, they can start again after the wound is healed and it is comfortable for them.

Bending

Motions that make your child twist, bend at the waist or are jarring may hurt at first. To avoid bending at the waist, your child should use their knees to stoop. This way, the leg muscles are used and not the back muscles.

Once home from the hospital these things are fine

6 to 8 weeks after surgery

3 to 4 months after surgery

6 months after surgery

1 year after surgery
Almost all activities can be re-started. Check with the doctor for specific activities.

Other
Trampolines should never be used.

 

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.