Mark Hornyak, MD

This is an 85 year old male who presented with shock-like sensations shooting into his arms and hands with increasing numbness in hands. He had one month of hand and arm weakness, getting worse rapidly. He was off balance when walking. He is unable to use his hands for fine motor tasks like shaving, buttoning clothes etc.
The Musculoskeletal exam was notable for limited motion of cervical spine. Neurological examination with weakness and loss of sensation in hands. He also has abnormal and hyperactive reflexes.

• All
• Pre-Op
• Intra-op
• Post-op

CT c-spine (sagittal left, axial right) performed in ER about 1 week prior to presentation due to fall. Note the degenerative changes and stenosis.

MRI c-spine (sagittal left, axial right) also demonstrating the degenerative changes. There is a bright spot in the spinal cord (T2 signal change) at the C3/4 level (arrow).

Images from intraoperative fluoroscope acquired in the lateral plane. The first image (left) shows the placement of a localizing needle into the C4/5 disc space. The second (right) shows the implants in place at the completion of the procedure.

Image acquired from the surgical microscope. It shows interbody biomechanical devices (aka cages or spacers) at the levels where the discs have been removed.

Postoperative x-rays showing the devices in place in the lateral (left) and AP (right) planes.

CT c-spine (sagittal left, axial right) acquired about 9 months after his surgery. It shows bone growth around the interbody devices (cages).

Diagram demonstrating the interbody biomechanic device that was employed in this particular procedure. The device is the Stalif-C FLX by Centinel Spine.