It's official Stenum money gone.

[CP7959]

Quick overview, I had (2)M6 ADR's in 2009, I had the Ritter-Lang 2 level "drive thru surgery" (40 minutes). The foramen at C5/C6 was not cleaned out so I continued having pain. One year later I had C5/C6 removed and fused. My U.S. surgeon mentioned it was beginning to fuse as well. That resolved most of my issues at that level. But I hung on to my M6 at C4/C5 even though the Foramen was not cleaned out there either, but not as bad as C5/C6.

Forgot to mention I had a Prestige ST at C3/C4 with no problems here in the States in April 2010.

So I went for my 1 year follow up with my surgeon. The Prestige ST looks fine, Foramen look good. But as luck would have it my C4/C5 M6 is fused over. So my 46K to Stenum is now officially gone. One disk removed, one fused over. Looking back should have just fused the 2 levels.

By the way I live on NSAIDs, that did not slow down the ossification process for me. For what it's worth, my surgeon did mention that their starting to see many ossification issues with low profile disks.

I do not notice any lack of movement with my now 3 fusions C4/5 - C6/7 and (1)ADR C3/C4. If the Dr. didn't tell me about the Ossification at C4/C5 I never would have known.

[Harrison]

CP,

Your feedback will hopefully be read and considered by many, so it was kind of you to post – given the hell you have endured through the years. Perhaps we should move this to your post-op topic soon. In the meantime:

- How the heck are you….NOW?!

- Did you take NSAIDs immediately after your first ADR surgery? This is the critical period – the “window” of opportunity to quell the bone overgrowth that may occur (HO).

- IMHO, keeled designs, especially for cervical bones, are risky. When you say this, are you referring to keeled designs:

..... “my surgeon did mention that their starting to see many ossification issues with low profile disks…”

- Sorry to ask, but when you can, please update your signature to help us appreciate your clinical history.

To create a “signature” of your spinal health, follow these steps:

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3. Write a short description of you spinal history and condition, preferable 4-8 lines;
4. Then click Save Signature. Every time you post, your signature will be included automatically.

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[CP7959]

Harrison, I did not ask him to expand on what he meant by "low profile disks". I would imagine it's the over all foot print of the Disk.

What I can tell you the M6 is very small with thin end plates. Where as the Presitge St has substance to it. So in theory I would imagine the boney over growth could over take a much smaller design and increase the likely hood of fusing.

It could be that the M6 that I received at Stenum had small end plates and what I may of needed was an M6 with end plates sized more appropriately for my vertebrae surface coverage.

I was on NSAIDs immediately post ADR and fusion for that matter. About 1200 mg's a day.

There may be more ADR's fusing than reported. With so many patients having surgery overseas, there probably is very little follow up and imaging studies after a year or two. And as I said if the Dr. didn't tell me, I never would have noticed. No additional loss of motion.

Question: what do you or anyone think the impact would be on an ADR if a Bone stimualtor was used for an adjacent fusion?

I'll update my profile shortly.