Neck Surgery

The Use of Implants

Surgeons usually employ the use of metal implants when performing cervical spine fusions. The metal implants do the job of holding the newly fused bones together to stabilize them while they heal. In the past, the patient had to wear cumbersome collars, casts or braces to repress neck movement during this post surgical phase. This was because movement of the neck after a cervical fusion undoes all or part of the surgery. So, the metal implants represent progress in the field of neck surgery.

The implant spans the length of the two fused spinal bones. The implant sits in front of those vertebrae. They are fastened to the bones by means of small screws drilled deeply into the center of each vertebra. One the bones have fused, the patient is left with the metal implant on the front of their neck bones, for life.

Bibliography
Medtronic, Medtronic Announces Introduction of MYSTIQUE™ Plate, the First Resorbable Implant for Spinal Surgery, August 22, 2005 Retrieved from Yahoo News August 23, 2005

Spine University, associated with Spine Center, Colorado Springs Orthopedic Group A Patient’s Guide to Anterior Cervical Fusion Retrieved from: http://www.spineuniversity.com/public/spinesub.asp?id=60 August 23, 2005