Originally Posted by mg neck prob

[wanted to add this sorry to my reply

Outcome measure CFC group Autograft group
General function
Improved 24(73%) 12 (55%)
Same 7 (21%) 6 (27%)
Worse 2 (6%) 4 (18%)
Arm pain
Improved 23(70%) 13 (59%)
Same 8 (24%) 6 (27%)
Worse 2 (6%) 3 (14%)


The stats are good in both ---instead of a graft where they use you own bone are the same if not better with the cages and you eliminate the donor pain from your hip. The other thing I have read is when they do MRI after surgery with the cages they get a better vizualization of the spinal cord and roots. Sometimes surgeons is your long term smoker or still smoke suggest your own bone but I know many ppl that still used cages ---and got a bone growth stimulator during there recovery which is basically looks like a horse collar u where around your neck for 4 hrs a day and u dont feel anything its just another tool they used to help achieve a solid fusion usually rec that if you smoke or were having a multi level fusion.