Please remember that I'm a layperson... a spine patient... not an expert.
I hear the doctors referring to 'bone wax'. I don't know the brand or exact compound. I've asked the obvious question about how long it lasts and it's my understanding that it will fade away in time and that it's usefulness is only in the weeks following surgery when cell production has been stimulated by the bone remodeling that takes place during surgery. After a few weeks, that has slowed down or stopped and the bone wax is no longer needed to 'seal' the newly exposed surfaces.
As far as removing necknose's osteophytes, it seems to me that they would be referring to ONLY removing the bridging structures on the front of his cervical spine. It seems to me... (I'm not a doctor, yada, yada, yada...) that removing those structures would be the equivalent of removing a leg on a three legged stool. However, remobilizing a segment, removing the bridging structures (front and back), restoring disc space and restoring natural motion; that is like rebuilding the entire stool instead of chopping off one leg.
I am not suggesting that this is appropriate in his case... I have no idea if he's a candidate for surgery or not.
Mark
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