CNS Blog
A ‘thing of beauty’ – State-of-the-art anterior hybrid cervical reconstruction: Before vs. After – Artificial disc, cage prosthetics
Image 1 shows the state of this man’s neck on a lateral X-ray. Mid-60s, with over 40 years of axial neck pain. Pre-operatively, I felt his neck to be relatively “collapsed and kyphotic” especially at C4/5, C5/6 and C6/7. The normal lordosis (slight ‘backward bending’ or ‘anteriorly convex’ curvature) of the cervical spine is also […]
Read MorePreferred back brace for my lumbar reconstruction patients returning to snow sports or motorcycle use
For patients of mine who, at one year (minimum) following anterior (+/- posterior) lumbar reconstruction, wish to return to snow sports or riding their motorcycles: Don’t forget my spinal health recommendations given to you in writing following your surgery under my care. They are key to minimising any adjacent segment deterioration; Wear a back brace […]
Read MoreArtificial disc + cage anchor & fusion points for spinal biointegration: “Hybrid” prosthetic construct shown here
My patients often ask about which parts of the prosthetics that I use during cervical and lumbar anterior reconstruction (i.e., my cages and artificial discs) are meant to “fuse” and which parts are “not meant to fuse“, and how are they “anchored in“? Image 1 below shows my preferred prosthetics: An FHO ESP artificial disc […]
Read MoreCongenital narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal – Implications
When a spinal canal is relatively narrow from birth, where it will remain relatively narrow throughout life, it is referred to as congenital spinal canal narrowing. This is different to acquired (typically degenerative) narrowing which is referred to as spinal stenosis. The MRI image below shows a mildly congenitally narrow lumbar spinal canal, with antero-posterior […]
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