Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
Plates and screws used in cervical spine fusion. are they designed to last more than 50 years? im so worried im only 30 years. what kinda problems ?
4 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Cervical fusion : The plates and screws used in a cervical spine fusion are titanium and will last a lifetime. They are tested at 10 million cycles of stress and are engineered to withstand breakage even in a high speed motor vehicle collision. Your head will not fall off your shoulders.
Answered 8/20/2020
4.1k views
Till you fuse : The plate and screws are there to hold the bones still till you fuse which typically takes about 3 months. After that they are not providing support. If you solidly fuse they will last well beyond your lifetime. If the fusion fails the screws will most likely loosen or break in a year or two. In that case you may need additional surgery. Ask your surgeon if you are fusing well.
Answered 4/30/2019
4.1k views
No worries: The instrumentation is needed to help stabilize the spine until the fusion occurs (3-4 months). After that, the instrumentation is very unlikely to fail.
Answered 9/5/2014
3.7k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
I had a anterior cervical spine fusion of c6/c7 three years ago and I'm still having significant neck pain. Is this normal?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
I had a t2-l1 posterior spinal fusion 5 years ago. I having been experiencing pain in my cervical and lumbar spine. Is this due to degeneration?
4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
I had broken 7 vertebra in my lower spine the last seven. I had rods and screws in for about 3 years and then got them removed! The remove was talked and agreed upon before all surgeries. Im curious on if I'm able to strengthen my lower back and how?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
My cervical spine has lots of problems like spinal stenosis.. Coukd that cause pain in the upper back on right? Pain present one year
4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
People also searched for:
I had 4 cervical spine fusions 30 yrs ago. Developed a neuropothy of pain in forarms mainly at night. Have been on gabapentin for years, and have done very well. Over last three months have had balance and dissyness problems and also numbing of my li
Pulsatile tinitus cones/goes in 1 ear for many years Had both brain/neck CT angio & MRI brain /Cervical spine last January all normal No high B/p low cholestrol no smoking only weigh 7.10lbs good diet All blood tests good. Worried?
I had a cervical fusion at 4-5 and 5-6, three years ago. Istill experience pain and spasms. I have a plate, 6 screws and 2 spacers. What should I do?
Had cervical fusion(C4 & C5) 16 years ago. Current X-ray shows one screw has backed out almost completely and tilting down. No symptoms yet. Danger?
Im having pain in both sides of my lower abdomen and the hip region of my back. I had cervical cryotheraphy 2 weeks ago and had intercourse last night?
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
