The Harrington Rod: The Progression of Spinal Fusion

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The Harrington Rod The Progression of Spinal
Fusion

• Presented by Kelsey Foster

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The History

• The Harrington Rod was developed in the 1950s by
  Dr. Paul Harrington.
• The Harrington Rod was the first spinal
  instrumentation to be developed

Modern examples of Harrington Rods
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What is it exactly?

• The Harrington Rod is a stainless steel
  distraction rod fitted with hooks at both ends
  and a ratchet.
• They are implanted through an extensive posterior
  spinal approach.

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How are they used?

• The Harrington Rod is used to correct deformities
  of the spine. They were created to be used
  instead of rigid external bracing.
• The hardware itself functions as an internal
  brace. Most instrumentation is so stable that it
  completely eliminates the need for bracing for
  anything other than comfort.

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• During the 1960s instrumentation became more
  mainstream as doctors who saw its benefits, began
  experimenting with modifications of Harringtons
  original system.
• Bone screws and cabling were developed in the
  1970s, to further stabilize the fusion.

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• It was used in the early stages without
  performing a spinal fusion, however, this changed
  due to the amount of hardware failures that
  occurred using this method.

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Looking at the future

• In the United States alone there is a large
  industry of improving the way spinal fusions
  affect patients. New techniques to be minimally
  invasive and new technologies to lessen the
  hindrance of motion are allowing patients with
  problems to be secure in knowing that these
  things wont disrupt their whole life.

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New ways to solve the same old problems

• NuVasive is a public company based out of San
  Diego, California that is working towards a new
  way of fusion. They work in MAS which stands for
  maximum access surgery. Their goal as a company
  is to fix the problem with as little damage to
  the patients life and body as possible. This new
  technology has surgeons going in from a patients
  side and implanting less rigid but still stable
  material to correct the deformity.
• With technology continuing to advance the
  Harrington Rod is becoming less and less
  effective and necessary.

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Bibliography

• Dryer, Joseph W., MD. "Harrington Rod."
  Harrington Rod. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013
• Spinesanta, Susan. "What Is Spinal
  Instrumentation and Spinal Fusion?"
  SpineUniverse. Spine Universe, 12 Sept. 2012.
  Web. 19 Feb. 2013.
• Gentile, Julie M. "Stabilization in Spine
  Surgery." SpineUniverse. Spine Universe, 20 Dec.
  2010. Web. 20 Feb. 2013
• "Speed of Innovation, Advanced Spine Technology
  NuVasiveÂ, Inc." Speed of Innovation, Advanced
  Spine Technology. NuVasive, n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2013