Hi, new to SPS, need Prodisc revision

[Steve]

Hi,

I had a Prodisc in 2002 at L5/S1. My local surgeon in 2005 said it was not in the corrrect position and recommended removing it and fusion it from the anterior approach with interbody fusion. I know this is tricky, to say the lease. I would like to hear from others who have had this done with any help they can provide me, or hear from others with any comments at all.

Regards to all,
Steve

[ajj1001]

Hi steve, I'm going in for my second revision attempt. I'm not disabled enough to contemplate removal as this can be a life threatening surgery. I had my 2 level adr in 2002 and first attempted revision by fusion in 2009. Wherabouts are you?

[Steve]

hi ajj1001,
Hello to you over there in the UK! I am located in Florida. I am pretty bad off, so I am considering removal. My prodisc was at L5/S1 in 2002. Top and bottom endplates not alligned, etc. Did you have a prodisc and your first revision was a posterior fusion? What problems did you continue to have? Your going in for another revision? You must be excited and nervous. Sorry for all the questions, lol. I hope it goes well and wish you the best!

[ajj1001]

Just taken tablets and off to bed so won't make much sense so will reply tomorrow! Good to have you here.

[ajj1001]

Hi again, I had two charite discs and they were good for a few. years. I had annual checks in flexion and extension and all looked good. In 2007 started with left leg symptoms and eventually had to stop work.

I had the bottom disc fused in 2009 but bone didn't form on the left side. The next op is an attempt to fuse over both adr from a posterior approach.

I manage 4 - 5 hours out of bed and take a lot of tablets but life is bearable.

In an ideal world I would have enough money to fly to brazil to have them removed from a lateral approach by Dr pimenta but we would have to sell our house for that.

What are your options?

[Justin]

Hi,

I had a Prodisc in 2002 at L5/S1. My local surgeon in 2005 said it was not in the corrrect position and recommended removing it and fusion it from the anterior approach with interbody fusion. I know this is tricky, to say the lease. I would like to hear from others who have had this done with any help they can provide me, or hear from others with any comments at all.

Regards to all,
Steve

Hi Steve,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems with your ProDisc due to mal-positioning. I have spoken with Spine Patients that have had their artificial disc replacement devices explanted and revised to fusion. Some cases were successful and others resulted in permanent disability; one patient almost died on the operating room table.

As Alison stated above, revising an artificial disc replacement surgery is a life-threatening operation.

Unfortunately, revising an ADR is an extremely difficult operation. I would only be consulting with surgeons that have experience with this type of operation (even then, this doesn't take away the significant risks that are associated with this type of surgery).

Here's a link to some artificial disc revisions: Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery - Revisions.

How is your quality of life / pain currently?

[Steve]

Allison and Justin, thanks for responding,

I am in the stage of obtaining several experienced consults. I had three good opinions in 05. I have been reading all the revision case studies and research for several years now. It will take a good amount of time to get several additional updated top opinions, and then proceed with the safest plan for my situation. I'll keep you posted. Justin you have a great website, and Allison, let me know if you decide to go in for surgery.

[ajj1001]

...let me know if you decide to go in for surgery.

I go in on the 22nd for my op on the 23rd. I'm hoping that the instrumentation my surgeon thinks will work does. Be 3 or 4 months before we know anything.

Justin has done an amazing job creating this site and I am very glad to be able to use it.

[Steve]

Allison, Best of luck! You will do well.