76.000 cervical fusions performed annually!!! Statistics on this link

I found a link that says that there is an estimated 76,000 cervical fusion procedures performed annually. That's a really high estimate I think and it still doesn't ease my mind about having it done on my own neck!!!

Clinical Trials :: Spine Institute of LouisianaThe cervical spine is made up of many joints which allow the neck to bend, ... Approximately 76000 such fusion procedures are performed annually in the ...

www.louisianaspine.org/clinical-trials.html

THE BEGINNING OF THE ARTICLE
1. Artificial Lumbar Disc Replacement trial
More than 65 million Americans suffer from low back pain annually. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is a disorder of the spine characterized by a narrowing of the disc space between two vertebrae where the disc resides. As the disc ages, it becomes brittle, dehydrated, and less flexible, and it loses height as well as the ability to act as a cushion or shock absorber for the spine.
This study involves research into the safety and effectiveness of an investigational artificial disc implant, the Kineflex, for treatment of discogenic pain caused by degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The goal of the Kineflex artificial disc is to preserve motion, while minimizing or eliminating pain. Up to five hundred and forty-four (544) patients will participate in the study at up to 25 medical centers.
Patients who qualify for the study will be placed into one of two groups: (1) treatment with the experimental artificial disc (the Kineflex) or (2) treatment with the approved artificial disc (the Charité). This is a random selection, like the toss of a coin.
Patients must meet the following criteria to be enrolled in this study:

Be between 18 and 60 years of age;
Have evidence of degenerative disc disease (DDD) at L4-5 or L5-S1 levels.
For more information you may visit the site www.spinalmotion.com


2. Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement trial (One –level)
The cervical spine is made up of many joints which allow the neck to bend, twist and move. Pain often results when the Intervertebral discs, that act as cushions for these joints become brittle or ruptue. With symptomatic cervical disc disease, a spine surgeon may need to remove the disc, which is between the vertebrae bones, and fuse the two bones together. This fusion often relieves the symptoms of pain, but makes the joint incapable of normal movement.
We are evaluating the Kineflex|C™ artificial disc for the treatment of cervical DDD. The physicians will be comparing the safety and effectiveness of the Kineflex|C artificial disc to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery. The purpose of the study is to compare the effectiveness of disc replacement surgery for the treatment of discogenic pain at one cervical level (from C3 to C7) performed using the Kineflex|C to anterior fusion surgery. Up to three hundred and twenty-eight (328) patients will participate in the study at up to 20 medical centers. Patients who qualify for the study will be placed into one of two groups: (1) treatment with the investigational artificial disc (the Kineflex-C) or (2) treatment with anterior fusion surgery. This is a random selection, like the toss of a coin.
Patients must meet the following criteria to be enrolled in this study:

Be between 18 and 60 years of age;
Have degenerated/dark disc at only one cervical level from C3 to C7 on MR (disc height decreased by ≥1 mm when compared to adjacent levels on radiographic film, CT, or MRI OR disc herniation on CT or MRI);

For more information you may visit the site www.spinalmotion.com

and it goes on with other multi level fusions, so be sure you check this out...
NaniKai