Dr. Clavel did mention that he thought the Activ-L was a good disc and has used it a few times. He said that revisions get kind of a bad rap...He said the ones he did with the M6 weren't terribly difficult. Food for thought. If you have an L5/S1 disc issue with no other contraindications....the Activ-L has specific designs to better fit various sacral slopes at that level. Being Zeegers is well versed with that disc...i'm sure he'd have no issues with finding the correct configuration. With 2-levels of work in the lumbar and wanting to have an active work and lifestyle again....it was a no brainer to M6 my lumbar for the shock absorption alone....especially since i had to have the level below the M6 fused.
A good question to ask would be the ability for scar tissue to form....i've heard posterior approaches are prone to scar tissue formation and anterior approaches are far less. But, I don't know about this posterolateral approach. I wonder if they still have to cut the anterior ligament to get the disc in...If not, that would be a plus for the Activ-L, avoiding potential instability issues.
Dr. Clavel said if asked about the potential for instability after cutting that ligament with SpinalKinetics. They told him the inherent design of the M6 makes up for the potential instability that MIGHT be caused by cutting that ligament. WE ARE ALL GUINEA PIGS!!
