Dynamic Stabilization instead of fusion?

[gwin]

Hi:

I have some questions regarding anyone's knowledge of Dynamic Stabilization being used instead of a hard fusion. I have badly deteriorated disks at LI/L2 and L2/L3, and so far the several opinions I have got recommend fusions. I have ask all the doctors I have spoken with if a Dynamic Stabalization System might be a good option and most were non commital or said no. One opinion from a Dr. Walia in India was to do the fusions at LI/L2 and L2/L3 and use a Dynamic Stabalization System at L3/L4 and L5/S1. In seeing this thread, and after a brief conversation with Dr Kulkani in India yesterday (anyone have any knowledge of him?) who said using aid the DIAM Dynamic Stabalization System at L1/L2 and L2/L3 instead of a hard fusion would be a good option. He said that the disks, once decompresed could re-hydrate to a degree and I could still have some movement in that lumbar area. It would require an open back proceedure, but could be done without disection of the mussles. He said he has done about 75 proceedures using the DIAM system. I am waiting on an opinion from Stenum as well. Thanks!

Gwin

[gwin]

Does anyone know of or have experience with the use of Dynamic Stabilization instead of fusion? A doctor I spoke with in India (has my MRI and x-rays) told me this would be a good option. He said the Dynamic Stabilization hardware would restore the disk height and allow the disks to re-hydrate. This seems very unlikely since mine are so deteriorated, but it sure sounds intriguing. This is the only doctor (spoken with about 6) who has offered this as an option. Thanks!

[Justin]

Hi Gwin,

I'm with you on the "rehydrate" your discs part. If your spine demonstrates significant degeneration, simply placing a dynamic stabilization system will not "stop" ongoing degeneration. This is my opinion of course. The degenerative cascade of the spine has been spelled out for years and if you have significant annular tears, vertebral body endplate changes, etc. this will continue despite a device being placed. With that said, if I was in your situation with wide spread issues throughout your lumbar spine, I would most definitely research all of my options before committing to a specific procedure / operation. The surgical approach at L1 and L2 can be quite tricky from the surgeons I have spoken with.

Best of luck with your consultations and ask as many questions as you can!

[RLMIAMI]

Thanks for introducing another option to treat DDD with spinal stenosis and neurological claudication, i have never come across it before. It seems that i meet the inclusion criteria for the device. see Applied Spine | Stabilimax: The New Dynamic in Motion Preservation. i'm going to see Dr guyer on Feb 10. he is an investigator for the device Dynamic Stabilization for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis With Stabilimax NZ® Dynamic Spine Stabilization System - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov. i was aiming for L4-5 fusion, is it a procedure i should consider?. Annette

[Katie]

Gwin, this is an interesting concept. All I can tell you is that Dr. Kulkarni is a very well respected surgeon, and one of our forum members, Rosie, just had decompression surgery with him last week, and speaks very highly of him. I have spoken to him a few times myself, but was not comfortable with the DIAM he suggested for the three bottom levels of my lumbar.

At the time, he did not mention anything about rehydrating the discs, only using the DIAM, and I was worried about the possibility of the spine 'tipping forward' or is it called lordosis? It looked like too many levels to be using that. (I am sure I'm not explaining things properly) Other than that, he had great solutions for my cervical back in the early days of my search for an answer. He helped me a great deal.

Good luck with your search for an answer.

[cheryl stewart]

Is this something that is merely being done on the mid to lower back? I will research more later. Most of my issues are in the neck. With a three level fusion c3-6 I am looking at trouble now with the c7-t1. I mean do we keep fusing my entire spine??? Something has got to give.

[cheryl stewart]

Thanks for introducing another option to treat DDD with spinal stenosis and neurological claudication, i have never come across it before. It seems that i meet the inclusion criteria for the device. see Applied Spine | Stabilimax: The New Dynamic in Motion Preservation. i'm going to see Dr guyer on Feb 10. he is an investigator for the device Dynamic Stabilization for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis With Stabilimax NZ® Dynamic Spine Stabilization System - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov. i was aiming for L4-5 fusion, is it a procedure i should consider?. Annette

These links were of great interest! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have problems with all levels of my spine. Two levels in the thoracic, one in the lumbar, and all of my cervical. This type of proceedure gives me hope. I really find this facinating!
-Cheryl