fusion/spine questions

[mmglobal]

Yvette,

I would still recommend being evaluated by a surgeon who has a great deal of experience with ADR, and has experience with ADR in more difficult cases and is working somewhere where he/she can still do ADR. Because of reimbursement and lawsuit issues, some hospitals are not allowing surgeons to do ADR. Because of reimbursement issues, some surgeons are giving up and are no longer fighting the good fight. Because of experience issues, it may be the case that HE can't or shouldn't do ADR in borderline cases. Possibly surgeons with much more experience would look at your case and say, 'no problem'.

I am not suggesting that I know what is appropriate for you. It may very well be that fusion is your best option. However, I'd recommend that you get recommendations about ADR from surgeons who have the experience and have the options.

If your problem is degenerative instability, where the collapsing disc space causes some instability, then you may very well still be a candidate. (Think of a tire, losing it's air, laying on it's side. It becomes wobbley. Restoring disc height will 'retension' the system.) If your problem is a structural issue like a pars fracture, you may not be a candidate. However, I do know people who've elected to do ADR even with some instability, understanding the limitations... with good result. (I'm not sure I'd recommend that... but I'd still want to be evaluated by someone with experience in these types of cases.)

Whatever you decide... all the best and please, keep us posted.

Mark