Maverick info

[bmills]

Has anyone seen this web site? I'm sure many have. I thought it was good. Shows the Maverick, Charite, and Prodisc. I especially like the animation of the moving Maverick. Does seem to move very well.

http://www.neurochirurgie-zwolle.nl/...icialdisc.html

Here are the options I'm looking at at this time.

1. McKee hospital in Colorado may have 10 more Maverick spots approved. This would be with Dr Pettine whom I am now seeing. This would be considered a continuation of the study that first involved 500 people of which 350 received a Maverick and the rest received fusion I believe. I am going to try the insurance but that is not likely to happen. Without insurance I would have to pay and that is expected to be around $25,000. I would take out a loan to do it. Not worried about the cost. Just worried about doing the right thing.

2. Get into the Maverick/Charite study that is supposedly starting soon. Take the one I draw.

3. Could still consider going overseas.

Most important thing to me is getting a very good doctor. Pettine has done about 18 Mavericks, 13 Charites, and about 500 anterior fusions. His surgical assistant said the ADR's have gone well. She mentioned one problem with a man that had a blood clot in the leg. Was being treated with medicine. I guess that can happen to anyone.

Pettine's Charite x-rays were evaluated by the Charite investigator a couple of weeks ago. They said they were all perfectly implanted. I guess there were some other doctors that did Charites that did not appear posterior enough. That was according to the surgical assistant that went with Pettine.

Tough decisions.

Brady

[Alastair]

Hi Brady,
I think you're kidding yourself when you are talking about the doctor having done a good amount of ADR. When you think that Dr Zeegers has implanted over 1200 charitee disks a success ratio of over 90%, and you are wondering about options -- -- -- which is always a good thing -- -- -- and you really are wondering whether to go overseas or to a man who was done fewer than 20.

I think it's time to wake up to the real world -- -- --lol
Best,
Alastair

[wbaker68]

Brady:

Your doing the right thing, asking questions. You can't do yourself any harm by investigating your options to the fullest. Keep researching everything and I am sure you will be able to determine the best avenue for you. Good luck on your search.

Bill

[Breia]

Brady: Pretty cool. Since I am an owner of a Maverick ADR, I especially found it interesting. There is a website that shows exactly how an ADR is inserted - I believe it is from Germany so most of the members on this site probably already know about it. www.Medkiozk.com
If you get a chance, check it out. Good luck to you no matter what you decide. I hope things work out for you and that you will make the right choice.

[andromeda1111]

Brady

I have to agree 100% w/ Alastair.

I wish you a successful outcome.

Andro1111

[bmills]

Thanks. So, I must ask this question and I know its a matter of opinion in many ways.

Are there any docs in the US that really have done enough successfull ADR implants? Is there one or two that have done a reasonable number to really feel good.

I'm guessing the answer is no since its still pretty new in the US.

Thanks again.

Brady

[mmglobal]

Ask your doc about the depth of the keel of the Maverick and the implications of multi-levels... whether you do them at once, or if you have to add more metal later.

Mark

[bmills]

Mark, is that because the depth of the keel can be to much and can interfere if you need a second level later?

Brady

[mmglobal]

Depth of keel is not a problem at one level. With 2 adjacent levels, the opposing keels are too close, generating the potential for splitting the vertebral body.

I still haven't gotten a good answer as to why they made the keel so long... what problem were they trying to fix with a longer keel?

Mark

[bmills]

I can see how that could be possible. Is this something you heard or is there some information I can have on this to share with doc?

One thing I heard is that there is one with a smaller keel. Have you heard that?

??

Brady