Anteroir Cervical Discectomy

[Rus__0]

  My Anterior Cervical Discectomy Require a Bone Plug
  The Bone plug Fail.
  It was Removed with a second surgery.
  But was not replace?
  I saw the X-rays and the size of the bone plug look like
  a 1/4 inch.
  My Fusion look to be at a 1/8 of a inch smaller
  My docter told me the fusion had taken
  and did not want to do a third surgery but
  I have great pain in my neck still with headaches
  and the right arm, also my right hand.
  My neck pops when I turn my Head
  Not all the time
  but it feels like bone on bone when it does.
  Surgery was 6/25/98 and 9/24/98.
  is this normal.
  And why would he not replace the bone plug
  Thankyou
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Dear Russ,
The decision to remove a bone plug that has fragmented and is pushing on the esophagus or spinal cord is reasonable.  If the disc space is small, it may also be reasonable to not replace the bone plug.  In most instances the cervical vertebrae will fuse on their own.  Some authors in the spine literature have argued that placing a bone plug in such procedures is not necessary.
Much of what should be done depends on the appearance of your cervical vertebrae on plain films and whether there is any nerve compression seen on the latest MRI.  You may be having mechanical pain just because the two cervical vertebrae have not fused yet.  Bone pain can be significant in these cases.
Speak to your surgeon in this regard.  The issue is whether you have or are forming a solid fusion at that level and whether there is any more compression on the neural elements in the cervical spine.  If you are not satisfied with your surgeon's answers, then get a second opinion from an experienced spine surgeon.
Good luck.