Dr. Patil Mahaveer Jingonda
Orthopedician and Traumatology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
My C4/5 and C5/6 disks removed three years back. C5/6 has been fused, and the C4/5 was replaced with an M6 artificial disc. Surgery was conducted by a surgeon. Around two years later, intermittent pains were occurring, with spasming flaring up about once a month. Neck pains, trapezius muscles, upper back constantly very tight, restricting the range of motion. Pain levels ranging from 2 to 8. The same surgeon has now informed me that there has been a malfunction in the M6 prosthesis, and there is now osteolysis that is dissolving the bone surrounding the artificial disk. My questions are, is the diagnosis correct? What is your recommended solution? How soon would you recommend I do something about this? How long would recovery take? Would you recommend physiotherapy? What type and for how long? How long would it be before I could take a flight home? Would you recommend that the same surgeon do the procedure? Or would any good surgeon be able to do it? Any other recommendations or things I should consider?
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I have gone through your query, medical history, and attached reports in detail (attachment removed to protect patient identity). There seems to be significant osteolysis around the M6 prosthesis. His diagnosis is indeed correct and I would suggest you to go for physiotherapy session initially instead of going for a re-surgery. Though the results would be unpredictable, still it will give better results as compared to a re-surgery. You can take approximately one-month of physio (Laser, SWD, traction, neck exercises). You should wait for a month or so before you take a flight back home. You should consider another doctor, preferably a physiotherapist.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for your answers, much appreciated. Is there a risk that the osteolysis will continue until I take the prosthesis out? This is why the surgeon recommended that I take it out ASAP.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your doubt regarding the prosthesis, but I should mention here that even though osteolysis occurs, it progresses at a very slow rate. If you take Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements along with anti-oxidants, the osteolysis can be slowed down considerably and you may not need a re-surgery at all (If things go well enough). But at this moment, if the symptoms are not that severe, I would suggest against removing the prosthesis out.
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Orthopedician and Traumatology
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