We know it can occur in about 30 percent of the cases. We are the main lead investigator and we are continuing to implant the device. The procedure is carried out through a small abdominal incision. It is very similar to that used for placement of fusion cages. The surgery is similar to that used for placement of cages.
Patients are in the hospital from one to three days.
They can return to work in one to two weeks. The positives are that one maintains motions, it can be done through a small incision and recovery time is relatively short. A negative is it is still a relatively new procedure, although there is 10 year follow-up in Europe. We don't have longer than a 10 year follow-up at the present. We perform this surgery at the Texas Back Institute.