Lumbosacral fusions with Harrington rods and intersegmental wiring.

Harrington rods are a valuable adjunct for fusion of the lumbosacral spine. Major limits of distractions are achieved with these rods. Greater amounts of decompression are possible. Decompression, alignment, and stability are maintained. Intersegmental wiring increases security and eliminates the problem of hook and rod displacement and loss of lumbar lordosis. A variety of methods are available for sacral fixation to avoid neurologic complications from the distal hooks. Three- and four-level Harrington rod distraction lumbosacral fusions have proven to be successful in returning severely-disabled spinal stenotic, obese, and osteoporotic patients to normal activities.