I had a failed fusion 5 months after my acdf....I had the revision surgery as my surgeon told me that I had to have it...at the time I did not question it, did not know that much and did not even know these boards existed. The revision was done posterior and was a nightmare of a surgery....again they took bone from my hip and now I have 2 plates, 2 rods and 12 screws. Am I better? No....at this time I am going to PT for what they think could be rotator cuff but my last visit the PT girl thinks it is coming from my neck. And this might sound way out there...but last week my dog had surgery and the vet believe it or not had the same surgery, acdf, he also has a failed fusion but chose not to have revision....he says he has good days and bad days.....I do have nerve damage as was shown on an EMG/NCV test.....I am waiting to see my surgeon which will be Oct 22....they could not get me in any sooner. This is just my story.....if to do over again I would have got another opinion.

Sharon

I am just wondering what type of fusion was done. Did you use your own bone, donor bone, cage, etc? Also, do you smoke? How old are you? I will be having a 2 level ACDF in September and my NS will be using a cage with my own bone ground inside. I also would like to have the best possible outcome. I hope you get a lot of suggestions.

I had posterior ACDF with plates and cadaver bone. I do not smoke and have been very careful to stay away from anti inflamatories as I was told they can hinder fusion. I've pretty much been the model patient, doing everything they have told me....PT, taking appropriate meds etc. I am a little nervous because the symptoms seem to be getting worse, not better as time goes on.

was adamant that my problems were coming from my neck, not my shoulder. However doc wouldn't listen. Found a new one (orthopedic doc) and as turns out, my physical therapist was right. I have 5 problem areas in my neck. Sometimes they know more than docs do.

Hi All,

I'm a spiney but am curious as to what you are considering a failed fusion?

I have FBSS, but do not consider it a failed fusion. My bone grafts took but hardware has moved. Hardware does not need to be replaced at this time, although causing part of my pain issues. When I had fusion surgery I was also put on a bone stimulator for bone growth. Do they have a bone stimulator for neckies?

Just like to have more info on all aspects of spine even though my problems are thoracic, lumbar and cerebral.
Interested in what my SH family members are going through

O-

The bone grafts aren't looking like they are fusing.

One thing to listen to is for is a word called pseudoarthrosis(non-union). I would suspect that your surgeon will be ordering a CT scan and or a myelogram to diagnosis what is going on. I have gone through the revision surgery and it is much tougher on the body. Has your surgeon ordered you a bone growth stimulator? If the surgeon is not happy with the fusion progress this would be the next step to aid in the fusion. There are some who never fuse and are not even aware of it as there are no symptoms to the issue. The hardware is stable enough to hold the cervical spine if it does not fuse. As far as to the reason for not fusing who really knows. the surgeon may not have used a large enough piece of bone. Your bone does not like the new cadaver bone. Your having to much movement in the area for the fusion to take place. The one thing i would question is why are you doing pt if concerned of the non-fusion. I can see some stretches but not sure that all out pt is doing much for you at this point. Your pain could also becoming from scar tissue which could also cause the non-union. Here is a link to non-union that may help you more. Keep us posted on what the surgeon suggest. http://www.spine-health.com/glossary/n/non-union

I had my C5 C6 fused 2 years ago and am now having a PRODISK replacement on my C4 C5. The disk above my fusion started to bulge and the metal plate from my fusion was slicing it up! The metal plate that was used is so big it is above and below the bones it was screwed into. It will be removed on Sept 9th when I have my disk replacement (which I am terrified for) done.

glad i am not the only one with issues. i have os odontoideum and i had c1 c2 fusion from the back in july. hurt like hell. well. . that graft slipped. wire did not hold it. so in september i had screws, rods and wire. if that doesn't hold this cadaver bone in place nothing will . . . .lol. i am now post op 4 weeks and feel great, some numbness but it coes and goes. still getting the creaking and popping sounds too. dealing with it. thinking that the body is just reapiring itself.
Roxy
ps i was tortured with the posterior procedure twice

I am a little over 3 months after ACDF levels 5/6 6/7 fusion using cages filled with bone harvested from my own osteophytes, with plates and screws. I was doing pretty good up until a couple weeks ago until I started experiencing severe headaches, facial numbness, along with all the old symptoms returning like the burning between my shoulder blades, pain and numbness radiating down my left arm into my hand and fingers and now starting into the right side. My neurosurgeon ordered a myleogram, CT scan, and another nerve induction. Saw my neurologist for another issue this past Wed. and he said he was seeing more herniated discs at levels 3/4 4/5 on an MRI he had ordered back in Aug.. Man I was floored. Since he's not treating me for the neck issue he said to wait and see what the other tests say when I see my neurosurgeon in Nov. Don't think I can handle more surgery.

The waiting I think is the worst.
missb

Feb of 2008 is when they found my congenital anomally. I had a fusion at the c1-c2 level that was unsuccesful. My surgoen wanted to use the "harms" method, but when he cut my neck open, the muscles and veins were " unlike that of anyone else he has seen" ( Massive) So instead of the "harms" way he had to use wire and graft fixation. That did not work. The new surgeon i am seeing wants to use the "magrel" method or go through my throat. Has anyone ever tried those methods and if so did they work?