Complex Deformity & Revision Surgery

Some spine problems are not a first operation. They are a long fusion that has broken down, a spine that has lost its alignment after earlier surgery, or a deformity that has kept progressing despite treatment. These cases call for careful planning and surgical training in spinal reconstruction.

Dr. Robert J. Ames completed fellowship training in complex spinal surgery at the San Diego Spine Foundation, a center known for deformity and revision care. He evaluates and treats complex deformity and revision patients in Sewell, Cherry Hill, and across South Jersey.

Dr. Robert Ames performing minimally invasive spinal reconstruction

Problems treated

Flatback syndrome and loss of the spine's natural curve after prior fusion
Breakdown above or below a long fusion (junctional kyphosis or junctional failure)
Nonunion (pseudarthrosis) of a prior fusion
Broken rods, loose screws, or other hardware failure
Progressive adult scoliosis or kyphosis after earlier surgery
Forward or sideways imbalance that makes standing and walking tiring

How evaluation works

Complex cases start with full-length standing X-rays that measure your overall alignment, along with CT or MRI to look at the prior fusion, the hardware, and the nerves. Bone density, overall health, and your personal goals are part of the plan. Not every abnormal X-ray needs surgery, and Dr. Ames will tell you plainly when it does and when it doesn't.

Surgical options

Depending on the problem, surgery may include repairing a nonunion, extending a fusion, replacing failed hardware, or realigning the spine with corrective techniques called osteotomies. Dr. Ames uses robotic guidance and minimally invasive approaches where they can achieve the correction you need, and open reconstruction when that is what the problem requires.

Common questions

Is revision deformity surgery a major operation? Often, yes. Dr. Ames reviews the expected recovery, risks, and alternatives in detail before any decision.

My first surgery didn't help. Is it worth another opinion? Yes. A careful search for the specific cause of your symptoms is the first step. See Spine Surgery Second Opinion.

Schedule a consultation

Call (609) 267-9400 to see Dr. Ames at Virtua Reconstructive Orthopaedics in Sewell or Cherry Hill, NJ.

Request an Appointment