time sensetive decision
time sensetive decision
hello everyone.i've been browsing these forums for about a month now. heres my story 2/12/06 riding my atv in snow storm with a bunch of guys. lost my group went back to my vehical to call them on cell phone. found out where they were at and went to find them. well some guy was showing off his brand new snowmobile and hit me going 85 mph i fractured my humerus and severed brachial artery they repaired both but was diagnosed with severe brachial plexopathy. hers my problem. i have scheduled exploratory surgery with dr. zager at the university of pennsylvania hospital on may 19. after reading so much about mayo i called them yesterday and they want to see me on june 14. should i cancel surgery with dr.zager and wait to go to mayo. results of two emgs showed problems at root level. mri showed swelling of brachial sheath and possible hemorage, myleogram showed all nerve roots intact. any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Re: time sensetive decision
Hi James, and I'm sorry to read about your injury. So often these are a result of somebody else doing something really stupid - but the price is paid by the wrong party.
If you've been reading much on the forum, you already know that my recommendation would be Mayo, always, no matter what! But you raise a good point about the timing. It's best to do surgery within a 6 month window after the injury. So the "real" question for Mayo isn't simply when they could see you for an evaluative appointment, but when they're able to actually schedule the surgery. Gone forever are the days when we were able to have the initial appt at Mayo and just stay on for surgery three days later (this was around three years ago).
So call Mayo back & find out the soonest they might be able to schedule you for surgery. Others on the boards have also suggested checking back in with Mayo on an ongoing basis in case something earlier opens up.
The other thought is to ask how many of these surgeries Zager has done. I haven't read much about him one way or another - but if given a choice and all else being equal, I'd lean toward a team that has done more procedures. Also, would your insurance cover either?
Keep us posted & take care,
Ellen
If you've been reading much on the forum, you already know that my recommendation would be Mayo, always, no matter what! But you raise a good point about the timing. It's best to do surgery within a 6 month window after the injury. So the "real" question for Mayo isn't simply when they could see you for an evaluative appointment, but when they're able to actually schedule the surgery. Gone forever are the days when we were able to have the initial appt at Mayo and just stay on for surgery three days later (this was around three years ago).
So call Mayo back & find out the soonest they might be able to schedule you for surgery. Others on the boards have also suggested checking back in with Mayo on an ongoing basis in case something earlier opens up.
The other thought is to ask how many of these surgeries Zager has done. I haven't read much about him one way or another - but if given a choice and all else being equal, I'd lean toward a team that has done more procedures. Also, would your insurance cover either?
Keep us posted & take care,
Ellen
-
admin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19873
- Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm
Re: time sensetive decision
If your thinking about getting into the Mayo clinic in Minn............that could mean waiting a month to get in.Thats how long I had to wait.Thought you may like to know that.
Sandi
Sandi
-
Christopher
- Posts: 845
- Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02
Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed
BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.
Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt - Location: Los Angeles, California USA
Re: time sensetive decision
Ditto everything Ellen says!
I'm one of there patients and think they're the best I've met. Surgeries are now happening at four months and sooner for maximum recovery of function. The Mayo just hosted the American Assoc. for Hand Surgery's "Advances in Adult Brachial Plexus Reconstruction" surgical skills course ( http://www.handsurgery.org/pdf/aahs2006ad.pdf ), April 28-30, 2006, with an international team of surgeons sharing and exploring new surgeries. They also did this in May of 2003, so this should give you an idea of their interest in TBPI recovery. If it's been positively proven to work... they are doing it.
Find when out the soonest possible surgery date and if it's within that 4 month window, I'd take it. Even six months, but no later than that.
Best of luck to you and I wish you the best.
Chris
I'm one of there patients and think they're the best I've met. Surgeries are now happening at four months and sooner for maximum recovery of function. The Mayo just hosted the American Assoc. for Hand Surgery's "Advances in Adult Brachial Plexus Reconstruction" surgical skills course ( http://www.handsurgery.org/pdf/aahs2006ad.pdf ), April 28-30, 2006, with an international team of surgeons sharing and exploring new surgeries. They also did this in May of 2003, so this should give you an idea of their interest in TBPI recovery. If it's been positively proven to work... they are doing it.
Find when out the soonest possible surgery date and if it's within that 4 month window, I'd take it. Even six months, but no later than that.
Best of luck to you and I wish you the best.
Chris
Re: time sensetive decision
We just returned from Mayo in MN yesterday. Dustin had his return visit on his 6mo. accident anniversary. Dr. Bishop was against the surgery at first but then when they all decided we went ahead. They felt after 9mos the options were limited so they wanted to see what was in there now that we were at 6mo. Although they could still do some things later, nerve transfer or graphs would be too late. They said 6-9 months is preferred. His accident was 11/02/05. We were at Mayo the middle of March the first time. So this was our 6 week return there.
Sue
Sue