Sounds like something out of a DIY manual, but, as a case study reported on the Mail Online website by Roger Dobson, this is pretty much how surgeons have all but cured a 41 year old man's three year chronic back pain.
It's a simple enough premise. The type of back pain the man was suffering from is believed to stem from a stress or fatigue fracture of the spine. Untreated this gradually gets worse, ultimately leading to debilitating chronic back ache.
This procedure, the first of its kind in Britain, was performed by consultant spinal surgeon Raymond Ross, who carried out the operation at the Manchester BUPA Hospital.
In very simplistic terms it involves using what can be called nails and hooks to hold a small piece of bone across the defect, which eventually over a few weeks grafts itself into place, eliminating the stress causing the pain.
Interesting stuff, and I'm sure we will be seeing more of this type of operation in the future if the long term results prove favourable. To read the full article use this link.
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