Unapproved spinal springs: Parents on child's 'excruciating' pain

An 11-year-old girl’s life expectancy has been significantly reduced due to complications from an unapproved spinal surgery performed at Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, according to her parents. The procedure, which involved inserting uncertified spinal springs, led to severe physical distress and multiple subsequent operations. The family has filed a legal claim against Children’s Health Ireland (CHI), which recently settled the case with a payment of nearly €1 million. Nellie Lannen, who was five years old when the controversial treatment was administered, suffers from severe kyphosis, a condition characterized by an abnormal forward curvature of the spine. The surgical intervention aimed to support and gradually extend her spine as she grew. However, the use of experimental spinal springs resulted in serious complications. During the initial surgery, the pressure exerted by the rods caused her pelvis to fracture, and parts of the metallic framework later broke through her skin. Nellie’s parents, Stephen and Brigitta Lannen, recounted the ordeal during an interview with RTÉ’s Prime Time program. They described the experience as harrowing, noting that their daughter endured excruciating pain following the first operation. “After the very first surgery, she was in a lot of pain,” Brigitta said. “That’s when her pelvic bone was shattered by hooks on the rod.” She emphasized that the size of the rods made the situation particularly dangerous given Nellie’s small stature and delicate tissue structure. Over the course of more than two years, Nellie required a total of 14 additional procedures to manage the consequences of the original surgery. Her parents sought a second opinion from a specialist at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where they were informed that the approach taken by CHI was inappropriate. The consultant stated that the use of experimental spinal springs was “absolute nonsense” and “a waste of time.” The family pursued legal action against CHI, alleging negligence in the care provided to Nellie. In a recent ruling, the High Court approved a settlement in the case. A statement issued by CHI acknowledged the shortcomings in Nellie’s care and expressed regret over the circumstances surrounding her treatment. It noted that the hospital recognized the profound impact the incidents had on Nellie and her family since October 2020. Despite the financial compensation, the Lannens remain concerned about the long-term health implications for their daughter. Nellie was evaluated for spinal fusion surgery at Great Ormond Street, but doctors determined that she had become too medically fragile to undergo such a major operation. “We’ve had two or three opinions now that she’s not able to have that surgery,” Stephen said. The settlement agreement includes provisions for continued care for Nellie over the next two years, after which the case will return to court. While the family appreciates the medical attention Nellie received during her stay at Temple Street, they lament the loss of precious time spent with their daughter due to the repeated interventions. “We lost so much time trying to fix, first surgery, second surgery, try this, try that,” Brigitta reflected. “It was like she was just a guinea pig for all this to figure out what could be a solution for her back.”