From ADR to Fusion
I ran across this thread while looking at the possibility of enrolling in the Active-L trial where the control group would be Charite disc. I consulted a local surgeon who was really negative about Charite in terms of design, subsidence, wear, migration, and early degeneration of facets and adjacent discs.
I came across an interesting article on pubmedcentral.nih.gov. from the European Spine Journal about revision of failed Charites. According to the article, conversion to a fusion is possible both with removal and non-removal of the Charite. Slightly better results were achieved with the removal of the Charite. The full text of the article can be seen at
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...?artid=2226059
I hope this article helps anyone facing a revision of a failed ADR.
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Diagnosed with L4/L5 DDD 1998 after lifting injury.
10 years of failed P.T., Chiropractic, Acupuncture, injections.
Turned down for ADR in 2005 by United Healthcare
Living on Ultracet and Vicodin ES and only working part-time
Disqualified from Active-L trial due to low bone density in spine
ALIF 02/10/09
Last edited by trucklt; 12-18-2008 at 08:02 PM.
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