Zero-P Implant (Synthes)

**Alynn** · 01-02-2011, 08:08 AM

Hello All and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I have not been on the forum for awhile, life has a way of getting in the way, you know? My physical situation has stayed about the same....

I have had a second opinion appointment with a neurosurgeon, and unfortunately, the diagnosis is still the same, surgery IS needed for herniated C6-C7 with spinal cord compression...

However, this new doctor has recommended fusion instead of ADR for the fact that loss of mobility isn't really an issue for this disc and I do have some arthritis in adjoining discs. He has suggested the Zero-P interbody implant versus the standard instrumentation. I'm considering this procedure very heavily.

My question to you all is: have you heard anything on this implant? I also just found information on a clinical trial that my doctor's office is a part of, so I'm thinking that this is a very viable option for me.

Apparently, there is less soft tissue irritation with this product.

Any thoughts, or ideas would be appreciated!!!

Thanks, and I hope you all are fairing well!!!

**Cindylou** · 01-03-2011, 10:21 AM

Hello Alynn, Happy New Year to you as well!

I have not heard of this implant device, but I'm sure someone (s) who have will chime in soon. Your surgery sounds like a given, with the cord compression. Best of luck to you as you move forward with surgery. Cindylou

**Gilbert P** · 01-03-2011, 10:27 AM

Hello Allyn

I Googled the Zero P implant and it looks very promising,

You may want to check it out, It does show the procedure with all of the special tools ?

I wish you the best

Gil

**Cindylou** · 02-14-2011, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Alynn

Hello All and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I have not been on the forum for awhile, life has a way of getting in the way, you know? My physical situation has stayed about the same....

I have had a second opinion appointment with a neurosurgeon, and unfortunately, the diagnosis is still the same, surgery IS needed for herniated C6-C7 with spinal cord compression...

However, this new doctor has recommended fusion instead of ADR for the fact that loss of mobility isn't really an issue for this disc and I do have some arthritis in adjoining discs. He has suggested the Zero-P interbody implant versus the standard instrumentation. I'm considering this procedure very heavily.

My question to you all is: have you heard anything on this implant? I also just found information on a clinical trial that my doctor's office is a part of, so I'm thinking that this is a very viable option for me.

Apparently, there is less soft tissue irritation with this product.

Any thoughts, or ideas would be appreciated!!!

Thanks, and I hope you all are fairing well!!!

Hi Alynn, I'm bumping your thread up in case it got lost in the shuffle. Have you found out any more information on the Zero-P Interbody Implant? Just curious. Are you any closer to a surgical decision and date? Hope you are hanging in there ok. My best, Cindylou

**scotto74** · 02-14-2011, 11:22 AM

Hi Alynn,

I am just shy of three weeks post-op, and I had a two-level ACDF (5/6 and 6/7) with this implant in NYC. My surgeon (Dr. Fabien Bitan) said he has been using it for about a year and a half or so I think, and he seems to prefer it to the plate and screws approach. However, other top surgeons I spoke to still like the plate and screws approach, but one guy at Johns Hopkins said he uses this type of spinal implant (like the Zero-P) in revision situations when there is a problem with the plate or screws. For me, I was more concerned about trying to find the right fit with a surgeon and decoding the whole ADR vs. fusion thing, but I did like the concept of not having the plate and screws. So far I am doing ok and recovering slowly, some good days and some not so good. Because I have surgical problems at almost every level in my neck (what several docs told me), I think the two-level fusion is just putting extra pressure on the rest of my spine above and below the fusion site.

Not sure if this was a help at all, but I think the device seems like a pretty good one to me. I asked the doc at Hopkins about it and although he still uses the plate and screws, he seemed to think that the Zero-P type of implant was a perfectly sound approach also.

Thanks,
Scott

**Justin** · 02-14-2011, 09:36 PM

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Zero-P Implant, Scott!

**Alynn** · 03-28-2011, 10:14 PM

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and Scott, I really appreciate you for Telling of your experience with this particular device.

I have decided to move forward with this procedure instead of the ADR. My reasons are similar to Scott's , as I feel like my second opinion doctor is a better fit for me. I just felt so much more comfortable with him than I did with my first surgeon. Plus, I feel like the device option is better for me, as well.

I have scheduled my surgery for April 25th, and as ready as ia am to finally have rife from the arm and neck pain, weakness, tingling and muscle spasms, I am scared to death. I am not afraid of being put under, just the fact that there is so much the the doc will have to "move around" to actually get to the disc!

Thank you to all who have gone before and are taking the time to inform and encourage the rest of us!

Thoughts and prayers are most certainly welcome. And if you have any advice for after surgery, I would appreciate it as well.

Thanks again,

Alynn G

**scotto74** · 04-05-2011, 11:35 PM

Alynn,

Just wanted to wish you all the best with your upcoming surgery. I'm still recovering from my two-level ACDF a little over two months ago, but please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or if there's any info I can provide that might be helpful to you.

Again, best wishes for a successful surgery and a good recovery!

Scott