Autofusion of ADR often generates a positive result. Obviously, we wish motion was preserved, but if autofusion causes the system to settle into a non-painful configuration, the clinical outcome can be very good.
IMHO, some times the presence of the autofusion process indicates that there is a problem and the body is trying take care of it. (See eddieG's story... I think it is possible that his pain is coming from the autofusing level, yet the surgeon did the revision on the disc that was not autofusing???)
Some surgeons have very high autofusion rates (google "heterotopic ossification cervical disc replacement" and you should see the articles"). Other surgeons have very low HO occurrences. I wonder about eoh's having autofusion in both cervcial and lumbar procedures? Do you have some reaction to the prosthesis? Do you have some propensity to grow bone where it shouldn't? I hope to learn more about this case.
All the best,
Mark
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