AxiaLif vs. ADR with Charite`

[billyboy710]

Hi everyone,

This is pretty exciting for me as it's the first and only online forum that i've ever joined. I have been browsing and reading many threads on your great site and they have been very helpful. I was wondering if anyone has had or knows of anyone who has had the AxiaLIF fusion ?? I recently went to get a third opinion this time from a neurosurgeon who advised that my L5-S1 disc is really in bad shape (DDD) and he offered two options that he felt that I was a good candidate for: AxiaLIF or Charite disc replacement.

I am a police officer so the thought of being away from my job for 5-6 months while my bones fuse is not a comforting thought. I heard that the AxiaLIF is very minimally invasive since they enter beneath the tailbone but I've watched the procedure on YouTube and it's pretty disturbing. My orthopedic surgeon want to do a stand-alone ALIF with no hardware on the backside. I like the thought of no screws or rods but the recovery time scares me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Harrison]

Hey Billy,

Sorry you are here. But there's a wealth of support and five years of interesting topics for you to search through -- pls sift through the topics using the search utility if you can stand the sitting! So much more to share, pls PM or call this week. Are you a "one level" candidate? Meaning, is L5-S1 the primary or only problem? Have you had a discogram?

I hope we can help. In the meantime, please add a signature line (3-5 sentences) explaining your spine health history. It will help us more readily understand your situation, so we can more intelligently respond to your unique situation. See the User CP in the upper left.

[kimmers]

Hello Billy,

welcome to the forum.
An ALIF with just a cage in it is ok.

The ADR is advantageous because in theory there is less chance of adjacent disc disease because of the preservation of motion.
Do some research and read up on the pros and cons of the two surgeries.

[billyboy710]

Thank for the replies. Yes, my problem lies at just the L5-S1 level, L4-L5 is healthy and has normal disc height. From what I've read, I'm a great candidate for ADR. I watched a video of a Charite disc replacement last night on ER-Live.com and it was very interesting. It was obvious that choosing a surgeon who has been well trained in that discipline is crucial. My neurosurgeon has listed a certification by Charite on his website but I need to ask more questions abou his experiences with it.

Diagnosed herniated L5-S1 in Fed 2008
Had MUA by chiropractor April 2008
Had microdiscectomy in Jan 2009
2nd MRI in Apr 09 revealed severe DDD L5-S1
Two facet block injections June-July 09 (no help)
Physical therapy exacerbates pain
Researching ADR vs. diff. fusion methods

[Harrison]

Billy, right on!

Also, when you can, pls check the first topic in this forum on risks and contraindications....