I had a C6-C7 disc implant by Dr Shifflett Aug 2018. I had visited 2 other specialists prior to seeing him, each having different recommendations. The first specialist recommended fusion of C6-C7 due to the level of bone degradation I have, stating an implant would likely not work. The second specialist recommended fusion of all 4 vertebrae C4 thru C7 due to other disc protrusions I had in those interfaces. Of course given I do not generally like to fix things that are not broken, I disregarded the second opinion at the outset. The first opinion I did consider, however knowing an implant would increase the spacing in my spine and this could possibly cause pinching of nerves in areas that were not an issue. I reasoned that if the implant turned out to be a problem I could later resort to the fusion as a last resort. So, I gave it a try and I am glad I did. Dr Shifflett answered all of my questions, and was very patient with me. He was not in a rush and we met on more than one occasion to discuss the procedure. The procedure took a bit more than 1 hour and was performed at the Newport Beach facility. A very clean, professional place and the staff there was outstanding. They prefer an overnight stay to be sure all is well, and I was extremely comfortable. My recovery was great, with no issues afterward. No new pains and healing has gone well. We did a series of follow-ups. and each time I was given ample time to discuss how I was doing. I HIGHLY recommend Dr Shifflett and his team !!!
