Surgery Past/Present/Future
Thank you Linda. Such is the nature of true scientific study i suppose. With surgical techniques, by the time we have a 10 year study, new techniques have been developed? A bit bothersome, to me - and making a decision towards surgery based on long term studies not really possible. Personally, i would have to rely more on a leap of faith than i would long term evidence of any technique i would choose today. Would have to say the pedicle screws look promising but certainly more time is required before deeming them a success (i.e., how will these same patients fare when they are 70 or 80. We do need techniques that will give near perfect correction (vs 50-70 %) while allowing excellent range of motion - and is what we look for in the future.
In 1969, i broke my neck in a car accident. A wonderful neurosurgeon named Richard King Neal III (now retired) - literally saved my life. When he saw my xrays he broke out in a cold sweat - one of the vertebra was cutting through my spinal chord, near 50% he told me later (i realize some may not believe this, but it is true). Anyway he fused 5-6 using bone from my hip, entering from the front (anterior?). At 3 month follow up, he was amazed that i had full range of motion to move my head from left to right & up and down. Forty years later .. have never had a problem.
Maybe one day - we will have surgical techniques allowing for similar spinal range of motion without future complication. Certainly, this is what we need to truly improve quality of life.
My question is - is this what selective fusion attempts to do (offer greater range of motion)?
Thank you Linda. Such is the nature of true scientific study i suppose. With surgical techniques, by the time we have a 10 year study, new techniques have been developed? A bit bothersome, to me - and making a decision towards surgery based on long term studies not really possible. Personally, i would have to rely more on a leap of faith than i would long term evidence of any technique i would choose today. Would have to say the pedicle screws look promising but certainly more time is required before deeming them a success (i.e., how will these same patients fare when they are 70 or 80. We do need techniques that will give near perfect correction (vs 50-70 %) while allowing excellent range of motion - and is what we look for in the future.
In 1969, i broke my neck in a car accident. A wonderful neurosurgeon named Richard King Neal III (now retired) - literally saved my life. When he saw my xrays he broke out in a cold sweat - one of the vertebra was cutting through my spinal chord, near 50% he told me later (i realize some may not believe this, but it is true). Anyway he fused 5-6 using bone from my hip, entering from the front (anterior?). At 3 month follow up, he was amazed that i had full range of motion to move my head from left to right & up and down. Forty years later .. have never had a problem.
Maybe one day - we will have surgical techniques allowing for similar spinal range of motion without future complication. Certainly, this is what we need to truly improve quality of life.
My question is - is this what selective fusion attempts to do (offer greater range of motion)?
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