M6-C Limitations

[jss]

From what I've read though, I haven't seen a lot of evidence that would suggest there is a lot of wear debris contained within the sheath. Have you been told differently? Do you know the size of the holes relative to the debris?

Per Spinal Kinetics' web site, the purpose of the sheath is to contain wear debris. Would it not follow that the holes must be small enough to contain the wear debris? If not, the purpose of the sheath would be defeated.

Also, I'm not sure I understand your numbers...MDE said the sheath was at least .5mm away from all important structures, but it should only bulge 1mm, so there shouldn't be an issue. My math says there definitely might be a problem in a worst case scenario, so hopefully you've got a decimal in the wrong place...

If you take an axial cross section of the M6's sheath you would observe that it is a circle. If you increase the diameter of that circle by 1mm (the 1mm bulge), then the radius increases by .5mm. So all anatomy surrounding the sheath is now .5mm closer to the sheath.

[brookscw]

I've just seen a few studies that showed there was no appreciable wear and tear on the devices after simulating X number of years of use. Guess I just naively assumed the sheath was there to keep out bodily fluids to eliminate micro-abrasion and to contain any material in the event of a catastrophic failure.

That makes sense about the numbers now, I wasn't thinking of it in those terms.

[banhorn]

I've also got some mixed answers from a few of the surgeons - mind you, I've been inquiring about the L.

Clavel - yoga and skiing are ok - no hockey (I'm a goalie)
Boeree - skiing and hockey are ok - not sure about yoga
Ritter Lang - do whatever I like and more importantly think about what I can't do now. Talk about a confusing answer.

I'm an advanced yoga practitioner and play hockey at a pretty competitive level, so I've been reading as much as a I can on the M6's limitations.

I've spoken to a handful of C'rs and L'rs that work in pretty physically demanding jobs with no issue. One fellow is a farmer who is now bending over to pick up and throw 60lb seed bags for his planters without issue. Another works with concrete and I know from personal experience, it is more than demanding on a person's back.

How hard can you really push an ADR? Also, how "fused" is it really with the vertebral endplates? Is it as strong as the disc that was originaly there? There are a number of professional athletes with older model ADR's that are still functioning at a professional level... so one could assume the M6 is better, I guess?

They've even got Rugby Union players using ADR! Not sure if it is an M6 though.
BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | English | Dowson signs new Falcons contract

I don't know... I keep convicing myself to get the surgery one day and freaking out about it the next day. LOL

All the while, my back and legs hurt.

[brookscw]

I just saw the Ranier Cadisc-L got the CE mark recently. Know much about that one?

[banhorn]

I've got nothing on the Cadisc - maybe one of the more experienced people on here might?

[spinches]

My MRI radiologist said I have "disc osteophyte complexes" at three levels. If osteophytes have grown into my natural discs, I would assume my body will try to do that with artificial implants also. I have been wondering if the ADR's that are designed to mimic natural discs would be more likely to encourage osteophyte development or be vulnerable to damage from osteophyte development than the older ones like ProDisc or Prestige. Do any of the members have information about this?

Sandra

[badbatzmaru]

Sandra - I don't know the answer to your specific question... but I had an M6 put in in February 2010 at C5/6. I had really very minor if any osteophytes (what was normal for a 32 y/o male) but since the surgery I've had significant heterotropic ossification, or as I would rather say, I've grown a ridiculous amount of bone all around my implant. This has led to my nerve being completely re-aggravated, and I've just received my second recommendation to have revision surgery to remove the implant... There was no way to predict that I would exhibit such a propensity for bone growth, otherwise I would've opted for something other than ADR, but hindsight is 20/20. I would be careful about your decision if you already know your body tends to form osteophytes...

Jeff - can you point me to the thread or refer me to the person who had the M6 explanted due to osteophtye formation in the foramen? It looks like I'm headed down that path as well... Thanks

B

[spinches]

B-

Thank you for sharing what happened to you. I am terribly sorry to hear that you are in this situation. It sounds very scary. I certainly will consider what you have told me as I make my own decision! Good luck with whatever you do in going forward from here.

Sandra