Why doesn't Dr. Bertagnoli primarily use the M6?

[sportsnut3007]

I have read that dr bertagnoli is the best, but does anybody know why he prefers the cervical pro disc over the spinal kinetics m6? Is it just bc the pro disc has been around longer? I know the spinal kinetics m6 lumbar one is really new but do we expect bertagnoli eventually prefer that one or the freedom lumbar disc over the pro disc lumbar? I know on the site it says he will do any the patient prefers, but I was just curious if anyone knows if he has doubt in the compressible nature of the new designs or what? And if he doubts the compressible nature, is there any reason he likes the pro disc over the maverick? Thanks for any info out there.

[Justin]

I have read that dr bertagnoli is the best, but does anybody know why he prefers the cervical pro disc over the spinal kinetics m6? Is it just bc the pro disc has been around longer? I know the spinal kinetics m6 lumbar one is really new but do we expect bertagnoli eventually prefer that one or the freedom lumbar disc over the pro disc lumbar? I know on the site it says he will do any the patient prefers, but I was just curious if anyone knows if he has doubt in the compressible nature of the new designs or what? And if he doubts the compressible nature, is there any reason he likes the pro disc over the maverick? Thanks for any info out there.

Hi Sportsnut,

I believe that Dr. Bertagnoli prefers to use the Cervical ProDisc, as he has had much experience with the ProDisc over the years. He was also instrumental in the ProDisc design and was/is an engineer at heart. It could be inferred that Dr. Bertagnoli has a professional relationship with Synthes Spine (ProDisc).

Note, these are my personal observations / speculations and should not be looked upon as factual statements.

[KBear]

Hi Sportsnut,

I believe that Dr. Bertagnoli prefers to use the Cervical ProDisc, as he has had much experience with the ProDisc over the years. He was also instrumental in the ProDisc design and was/is an engineer at heart. It could be inferred that Dr. Bertagnoli has a professional relationship with Synthes Spine (ProDisc).

Note, these are my personal observations / speculations and should not be looked upon as factual statements.

More speculation here; but if he was instrumental in the design, it could be reasoned that their is a financial incentive to use it, as he probably gets a % of profits. Which would definitely explain a preference for it. I think this is something to consider with ALL surgeons, as many of them are invested in the devices they work with. I know I had to sign a disclaimer for all 3 of the surgeons I saw, saying that they may have financial ties to the products used. This could be considered good, as they obviously believe in the product to invest in it. Or bad, because maybe they use it instead of a better product for you.

[sportsnut3007]

Thanks for the info. I had read he had helped design it, but was just curious if anybody knew if there were some technical reasons on the preference, maybe one of his staff could answer idk. As of now, I dont need any artificial discs but I am worried for my future so I am keeping up with alot of the new companies and designs for them. Does anybody have a good idea/estimate of when they will start to develop some really good posterior implant ones. Does anybody know/speculate about when they will an artificial anulus that is hollow inside where you inject the new hydrogel stuff inside to act as the nucleus. I have read through alot of patent filings on patentstorm and seen that they have some patents filed, but I havent found any news on a company having a design of a true posterior one for the lumbar and not that semi fusion one from disc motions. I think that cloth/neodisc thing from nuvasive is a posterior approach thing but idk about that one looking all that impressive lol but then again im not an expert. Thanks for any info.

[KBear]

I know TBI was doing some trial of injecting something in I believe the actual disc. I'm not sure what it was called or any details. I just vaguely remember the surgeon offering me to be in that trial when I was disqualified for the Freedom disc trial.

[James Turner]

1. At the beginning the M6 had a limited number of sizes. I don't know how many sizes the have now. Several cases have emerged, where small M6s have led to autofusion.
2. In multi-level surgery stability is an important as flexibility.
3. The M6 has new chemistry.
4. There are other elastomer discs available in Europe, which have been around a lot longer.
5. If there is a correction to the curvature of the spine needed, it is much more difficult to do with a "cushioning" disc. This is often part of the surgery.

[Fuzzy]

Regarding typing with a neck injury. It is painful, thus I can't type for very long.

Bertagnoli and the m6:

One thing to consider is the surgeons experience and that it was shown in studies that the experience of the surgeon improved the outcome more then the device used. When surgeons like Bertagnoli and also Dr. Zeegers per my personal experience are staying with a proven design rather then go with the trend it may lead to a better outcome then working with a new design that the surgeon has less practical experience with. Dr. Zeegers stated to me he can transplant any of the devices and he would decide case by case as to which cervical implant to use. He would use the one he has most experience with but there are cases where another maybe newer device may have advantages then he would use that device. I personally would trust him rather then insisting on any particular ADR. A year ago Zeegers stated there was still not much study on the M6 so he would prefer the proven implants unless indicated otherwise.

[Justin]

I haven't visited Dr. Bertagnoli's website for close to year. However, I just visited the site and on the homepage under "News" it mentions Dr. Bertagnoli's use of many other artificial discs than just the ProDisc. Here's what I found:

• Spinal Kinetics M6 Artificial Disc (Click here for more information.)
• LP-ESP Elastic Spine PAD2 (Click here for more information.)
• Ranier CAdisc-L (Lumbar Disc) (Click here for more information.)
• XL TDR® eXtreme Lateral Total Disc Replacement (Click here for more information.)
• Oblique Implantation of the ProDisc-O

___________________________________

News:

*** Currently many patients are asking about elastomeric (rubbery) or cushioning disc replacements, such as the LP-ESP, Ranier, Spinal Kinetics M6, etc., which have the CE mark. Several of these discs are available for implantation with Prof. Dr. Bertagnoli, if it is appropriate for the patient. Caveat: While the concept of these discs may represent the future of disc replacement surgery, long-term studies are not available to substantiate the endurance of the new materials used in them and revisions of single piece devices require the removal of the entire disc. These two points represent additional risk to the patients receiving these devices.

***Also, the extreme lateral ( NuVasive ® ) or oblique implantation ( Prodisc-0 ) approach for lumbar patients is available.

Link: Dr. Bertagnoli's Website

[Cindylou]

Thank-you for that update Justin. Good stuff. CL