Instrumentation removal is a surgical procedure performed to remove hardware or implants that were previously implanted in the spine as part of a spinal fusion or stabilization procedure. The hardware typically includes screws, rods, plates, or cages that were used to stabilize the spine during the initial surgery.
In rare cases, hardware may become infected, leading to the hardware needing to be removed. Other reasons to remove hardware might also include a hardware-related complication or resolution of an underlying condition.