Early removal of a Maverick disc prosthesis: surgical findings and morphological changes

[Liz]

This is an interesting and disturbing case report of a young woman whom had her Maverick ADR removed at L5-S1 one year after implantation due to persistent pain. It's worth the read...

Early removal of a Maverick disc prosthesis: surgical findings and morphological changes
Acta Orthopædica Belgica, Vol. 73, 2007
Jens FRANÇOIS, Ronald COESSENS, Philippe LAUWERYNS
From the University Hospital, Leuven and the A.Z. Jan Palfijn, Gent, Belgium

http://www.actaorthopaedica.be/acta/...%20et%20al.pdf

[Carson]

Interesting read. Thank you. It seems the design of artificial discs will continue to become more conscious of the possibility of removal. Perhaps.

Katie is a good example given her allergic reaction to metals. Had Katie had ADR she may have, eventually, had to have her lumbar disc removed and be fused. So it seems ideal in designing a disc that incorporates good stability not subject to migration yet also designed cognizant of the fact the disc may need to be swapped or removed one day.

That said, plenty of people are doing well with the Maverick disc thus far. Anybody else wish it was the year 3000 already and all the testing and advances were done?! Perhaps by then medicine and engineers will offer the TSP (total spine replacement); that would be a trip . I'll get to work on that!

[KBear]

Anybody else wish it was the year 3000 already and all the testing and advances were done?! Perhaps by then medicine and engineers will offer the TSP (total spine replacement); that would be a trip . I'll get to work on that!

That would be crazy, no telling what they will come up with next.

[Katie]

Carson, you are dead on with your observation about my situation. I fully believe that I would be terribly sick by now if I had any amount of metal inside me. My artificial disc is so amazingly simple it blows me away. Just a piece of silicone between the vertebrae, held in by two screws. It would be so easy to remove in the future if need be.

Maverick was my disc of choice before I found out about my allergies though. As was already said, there are many people out there who have had great success with the Maverick. I'm just thankful that I wasn't born fifty years ago....oh wait, I was! Let's change that to one hundred....