All OACM and PT OFFICES will be CLOSING EARLY Friday, December, 9th for our Holiday Party.
Both of our OACM After Hours locations will be CLOSED Friday December, 9th for the event.
Thank you!

Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland
(410) 644-1880(855) 4MD-BONE
MENUMENU
  • Menu
        • Physicians
        • Physician Assistants
        • Physical Therapists
        • + OACM After Hours
        • Careers
          • Pay Your Bill
          • Patient Portal
          • Schedule an Appointment
        • Specialties
        • Conditions & Treatments
        • Services
        • For Our Patients
        • OACM News
        • Patient Education
        • Testimonials
        • Locations
        • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Physicians
  • CRNPs/PAs
  • Physical Therapists
  • Specialties
  • Conditions & Treatments
  • Services
  • + OACM After Hours
  • For Our Patients
  • OACM News
  • Patient Education
  • Testimonials
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Patient Portal

Just another iHealthSpot WP02 site

Cervical Spine Fusions

July 2, 2021

Cervical spine fusion

Will the metal detectors go off when I walk through airport security? That’s a question I often get from patients who are contemplating spine fusion surgery. It’s not an unreasonable question, as fusion usually involves placing metal plates, screws, and cages. The answer to this question is: “No.” But I do always use the opportunity to talk a bit about spine implants, and the latest technology.

There are many different ways to perform a fusion operation. I think it’s easiest to talk about them through case examples. I’ve attached three intra-operative radiographs of cervical spine or neck fusions in patients who had severe neck pain radiating down their arm, associated with numbness and tingling in their hands. These patients had tried everything to get rid of their pain — medications, physical therapy, and injections — and unfortunately, nothing worked. They opted for surgery to get rid of the arthritic discs and bony spurs pinching their nerves.

The first X-ray shows a fusion with a titanium plate and screws buttressing cadaveric bone spacers placed between the vertebral bodies, after removing their arthritic disc. The second X-ray shows a fusion with the same titanium plate, but this time using a 3D-printed titanium mesh cage that is porous to promote bone growth. The last X-ray shows a fusion, using an interbody spacer with new technology called “porous PEEK,” a special inert plastic with holes of a particular size that ultimately helps promote bone growth.

Whether older methods, such as the cadaveric bone spacer, or the latest in 3D-printing technology with the titanium or porous PEEK cages, the outcomes of these operations are usually fantastic. All three patients woke up with a significant reduction in their preoperative pain.

My role as a spine surgeon is to choose the best option based on the patients’ characteristics. For healthy patients with no social risk factors (e.g., smoking), cadaveric bone works well, and it is cheaper. For those who may have weaker bone or problems forming bone (e.g., smokers and patients over 65 years of age), using the porous PEEK, which better matches the cervical spine mechanics, could be a better choice.

Whatever choice is best, I can definitively say patients shouldn’t worry at all about TSA and the metal detectors. Travel (safely) with confidence!

 

Uchechi Iweala MD, MBA

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Centers for Advanced Orthopedics

Orthopedic Associates of Central Maryland Division

 

Filed Under: Spine Tagged With: Cervical Spine Fusion, spine fusion operation, spine fusion surgery, spine implants, spine surgeon near me

Primary Sidebar

Blog Main Page

Recent Posts

  • When Does Knee Pain Warrant a Visit to the Doctor?
  • Common Sports Injuries: Treatment Options
  • Shoulder Surgery Pain Relief: Tips for a Quick Recovery
  • Physical Therapy Exercises for Knee Pain
  • Sports Injuries in Baltimore, MD: Four Tips for a Safe Skiing Adventure

Categories

March 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Feb    

Archives

Tags

arthritis Back Pain best orthopedic doctor near me chronic pain Foot and ankle specialist near me Foot and Ankle Surgery Foot Care foot pain hip hip pain hip replacement Injuries joint pain Joint Replacement Joint Replacement Surgery knee pain Knee pain treatment near me Knee Replacement low back pain treatment near me Neck Pain Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland Orthopaedic Surgeon orthopedic care near me orthopedic clinic near me Orthopedic Doctor near me orthopedic doctors orthopedics orthopedic surgeon orthopedic surgeon near me orthopedic surgeons Baltimore Orthopedist pain Physical Medicine physical therapy Physical therapy near me Plantar Fasciitis treatment near me Podiatrist Sciatica Pain shoulder shoulder joint shoulder pain Sports injuries sports injury Baltimore sports injury treatment near me sports medicine doctor near me

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Blog
  • instagram
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Non Discrimination Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Billing Disclosures
Copyright ©
Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland.
All rights reserved.
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland in Baltimore, Catonsville, Columbia and Eldersburg serves the nearby communities of Annapolis, Washington DC and Montgomery County. Our orthopedic surgeons, podiatrist, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, and physical therapists specialize in arthroscopic surgery, minimally invasive procedures, joint replacement, sports medicine, and onsite diagnostic imagery, outpatient surgery, and physical therapy rehabilitation providing pain relief from sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, foot pain, knee pain, hip replacement, shoulder impingement, cubital tunnel syndrome and more.

  Request an Appointment

  • Pay Your Bill
  • Patient Portal
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Home
  • Physicians
  • CRNP/PAs
  • Physical Therapists
  • Specialties
  • Conditions & Treatments
  • Services
  • + OACM After Hours
  • For Our Patients
  • OACM News
  • Patient Education
  • Testimonials
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Careers