Neurology & Neurosurgery (see more articles like this)

People with cervical spine injuries, including degenerative disk disease, now have new hope for regaining mobility and reducing the pain and recovery time associated with disk repair surgery.

Doctors at Florida Hospital are performing a new procedure using a cervical interbody implant called BAK/C. The cylindrical titanium alloy implant is covered in v-shaped threads that shave local bone into the implant’s chamber, creating local autograft. This new "no harvest" feature eliminates the pain and complications associated with having to graft bone from the hip area into the spine, which is how this type of procedure was done in the past.

"We are seeing incredible success with the BAK/C," said Florida Hospital Neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Baker. "The procedure only takes about a ½ hour, the patient recovers much faster and the implant is so sturdy, they don’t even have to wear a brace home after surgery."

It’s been years since Maureen Lawrence of Orlando has been able to do any sort of physical activity without experiencing severe neck pain due to a degenerating disk in her spine. "The pain was terrible," said Maureen. "But now that I’ve had the BAK/C surgery I can go bowling again with all of my friends. It’s really given me my life back."

Approved by the FDA in July 2001, BAK/C is only being used in 250 hospitals nationwide.

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