Bone graft

[flowerpower]

Hi Renee...

Some surgeons remove the spinous processes and use them for fusion. I don't think there is enough bone to facilitate fusion, however, so I'm thinking that he got bone from elsewhere, or used some donor bone.

--Linda

Hmmmm......my understanding was, nothing would be removed and no donor bone would be used, only Joe's.....the way he explained it, he would chip bone directly from the vertebrae. What do you mean by "spinous processes" - (discs?). Perhaps I should ask him for clarification on this. (Even though) the surgery is done with I still would like to know exactly what was done.

Thanks, Linda. I always appreciate your input

Renee

[LindaRacine]

Hmmmm......my understanding was, nothing would be removed and no donor bone would be used, only Joe's.....the way he explained it, he would chip bone directly from the vertebrae. What do you mean by "spinous processes" - (discs?). Perhaps I should ask him for clarification on this. (Even though) the surgery is done with I still would like to know exactly what was done.

Thanks, Linda. I always appreciate your input

Renee

It's the most prominent part of the posterior elements of the spine:

http://www.uhn.ca/programs/spine/ima...a_labelled.gif

--Linda

[flowerpower]

Linda,

Thanks for the link. It could be that the spinous processes were what was used, and I misunderstood the explanation and assumed it was bone that was used. I do know the surgeon said no other fusion material would be used other then what came from Joe. I do notice that starting about an inch or so below the top of the fusion, the spine feels "smoother". In other words, the vertebrae feel less defined. Could this be a reason, or could that just be from the scar?

Renee

[LindaRacine]

Linda,

Thanks for the link. It could be that the spinous processes were what was used, and I misunderstood the explanation and assumed it was bone that was used.

The spinous processes are bone.

I do notice that starting about an inch or so below the top of the fusion, the spine feels "smoother". In other words, the vertebrae feel less defined. Could this be a reason, or could that just be from the scar?

Sorry, I don't know.

--Linda