WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

AS WITH any surgery, there’s a small risk of infection, bleeding or harmful blood clots forming.

THERE’S also a tiny risk that the nerves or spinal cord could be damaged. ‘I’ve been a cautious TOPS user for a few years and believe it’s a useful device for a small group of patients with particular spine problems,’ says John Fowler, a consultant spinal surgeon at BMI Sarum Road, Winchester. ‘Many gadgets in the past have been reported as miracle cures only for them to be abandoned a few years later when poor outcomes are reported. This is refreshingly different.

‘The device allows complete removal of the joints if they’re causing the problem.

‘Essentially, TOPS is a joint replacement (like hip or knee joint replacement) for the spine.’